The Red and Black

The Chris McCarty Band, a band with its origins in Florida, performs tonight at Tasty World. Its musical style includes a blend of hip-hop and rock. (Special • The Red & Black) [Click to enlarge]

A University student Monday through Friday, Fleet doubles as a drummer for the Chris McCarty Band, based out of Tallahassee, Fla.

"We're on the road a lot," Fleet said. "We play on weekends, breaks, as much as possible."

With members throughout the Southeast, the geographic makeup of the group may seem impractical.

But all the members insist that the lineup is a necessary part to the band's chemistry.

"I find because of how much we love each other, we are better now because we have such a good time off-stage," said frontman Chris McCarthy. "We are sharing so much of ourselves and we are playing so much better."

Fleet and bassist Greg Riddle played together in a high school band in Florida.

While at Florida, Riddle met up with aspiring singer/songwriter Chris McCarty and the two began playing acoustic shows around the Southeast.

The two found a musical compatibility in each other incomparable to any previous experience.

"I've been in other bands before but nothing like these guys, as far as musical ability," McCarty said.

Fleet began playing with the band part-time but now has become such an integral part of the musical process, that the others are slowing down their career path to ensure he is included.

"It's really important for us to have Gabe in the band, he's a really hard-worker," McCarty said. "We are willing to slow down to wait for Gabe, to make sure it works out."

This spring, Fleet will relocate to Tallahassee, along with McCarty's brother, Phil. The group predicts Phil will add to the already strong group cohesion.

"When we all get together, something really magical is going to come about," McCarty said.

Fleet describes their music as acoustic-based college rock with a motown and hip-hop influence.

According to McCarty, the diverse lineup of the group affects the band's unique sound.

With hip-hop now a major player in the music industry, the Chris McCarty Band's timing as a rock-hop hybrid could not be more perfect.

McCarty chalks this aspect of the band up as luck, insisting it is only playing the music of its generation.

"We didn't plan (the hip-hop element), I didn't plan being black," McCarty said. "But it's fitting because we all grew up with that."

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