An Interview with Full Circle, A Blend of Musical Influences
By Mark Barksdale
02/01/2007I could not make it to New Orleans for the New Year's Eve weekend celebrations. I had been asked by The Valley Planet to interview a band called "Full Circle". The band was scheduled to play at the Jazz Factory in downtown Huntsville on the 29th, which was the very day that I would have been on my merry way to Louisiana. I had even purchased a tactical body armor vest, a tactical ballistic helmet, a ballistic groin cup, and a Stun Master 300,000 volt stun gun for my weekend romp in The Big Easy. Regardless, I had decided that it was probably a good idea, in order to avoid being the victim of any violence in New Orleans, to stay in Huntsville that weekend. Actually, I felt relieved and quite happy that I'd be checking the Jazz Factory out and interviewing this up-and-coming band.That Friday night I located my micro-recorder, slipped into my retro-luscious 1970's rust colored disco corduroy with suede trim leisure suit and took off toward what I felt would be a delightful experience.I parked in an alleyway downtown and eventually made my way into the Jazz Factory. I was overwhelmed by it's New Orleans ambiance. As I stepped into this fabulously decorated place I was given what I had been needing - a stirring and pleasing feeling. This place had a Victorian era look with a jazz theme! The lighting was mellow and I felt very comfortable and at ease as I sat down and ordered a Hurricane cocktail.Some incredible music was played there that night. I realized that what I'd been told was true. The Jazz Factory is a place where music is made. It's made by bands like Full Circle. This band was focused and driven in their performance. Full Circle gave my starving ears some good nourishment.Well, here's the interview:Who is Full Circle? Where did the band get started?Mike Lesnick: Full Circle is a very tight, close knit band of four talented musicians who grew- up with an appreciation and love of music and became very close friends. Full Circle got its start in Huntsville, Alabama.How many band members are there? What are your names and what instruments do each of you play?Mike Lesnick: There are four members, all of which are original members. Andy Benefield is the drummer and conga player, Mike Johnson, AKA: "Little Mike", plays the acoustic rhythm guitar and sings lead, Gabe Larose is also a lead singer and plays lead electric guitar and then there's me, Mike Lesnick, AKA: "Big Mike". I play the bass and sing back up.Who or what brought the band together?Mike Lesnick: It may sound kind of corny, but it was fate that brought Full Circle together. In an instant within time we clicked as musicians and played as one during our first jam session. It became apparent immediately to us that we were very strong as a group. We have all played in other bands and some of us as solo musicians, but there was no getting around it, this group had the "It" factor. Maybe we should have called the band "Love at First Sound" since that is what it really was. The moment that "it" became clear, we knew that we were all going to be in "the" band together. This realization literally happened during that first jam session.Who is/are the pivotal member(s) in the band? Who crystallized the concept of the band and got everything rolling?Andy Benefield: Funny enough, but we all are the pivotal members in the band and that's what makes it work so well. We can't be as good as we are without each other. We each have strengths and talents that build upon each other's strengths and talents. We fit together perfectly. As far as the concept of the band, that began the moment we started jamming together. We all "crystallized the concept of the band." We each brought a musical style to the table that we could each feed off of. We realized that a band like this was what we all wanted. Together we form a full circle of diversity, style and talent.How long has the band been together?Mike Johnson: The four of us met about nine months ago and started learning cover songs with the goal of becoming a regular gigging band. Full Circle has been performing for about seven months now. Rehearsals have been very productive and we all love getting together to play outside our normal gig schedule.When you do write your own songs, what is the general nature of the songs that you write?Gabe Larose: When the band writes music, we try to dwell on our strengths and use as many of our individual abilities as possible. That leads us to focus on aspects such as contrast of dynamics and texture, as well as strong vocal harmonies. We try to base the "hook" of the song around our unique four-piece style and structure.What bands are your favorites to cover?Andy Benefield: One of our strongest assets is our ability to let everyone have an input when it comes to choosing covers. Being four individuals from diverse musical backgrounds has allowed us to create a very diverse set list. However, we all enjoy playing the classics like The Eagles and Led Zeppelin, as well as modern artists such as John Mayer and James Blunt. We also love to play those one-hit wonders from the seventies, eighties, and nineties.What bands have inspired you? What bands have influenced you the most?Andy Benefield: We are most inspired by artists that employ dynamic contrast to their songs. Artists who explore a variety of musical styles while maintaining their own signature sound are most impressive. The Beatles, U2, The Police, Cold Play, Neil Young, Hall and Oates, Van Morrison, and Elton John are a few names on a very long list of influences.What band or bands would you say influence(s) your playing style the most?Mike Johnson: The uniqueness of this band is a blend of influences. Each band member is from a totally different background ranging from Classical to Blues to R&B to Rock. Put this all together and you have Full Circle. I would have to say that the Eagles, Led Zeppelin and Hall & Oates have been major influences to Full Circle's playing style along with several others.Do you play the Jazz Factory on a regular basis? What is your favorite venue to play in the Huntsville area?Mike Johnson: Full Circle has played at the Jazz Factory numerous times and the band is kept in a regular rotation to play there each month. Full Circle has many favorite places to play in the Huntsville area. We can honestly say that there are not many places that we do not like to play. Each gig brings something new and exciting for us. It does not matter where we are playing as long as we have an audience to play to. Ultimately, it is the audience who we try to win over and that's half the fun!What would you consider is the most memorable gig that you've ever played?Mike Lesnick: The most memorable gig would have to be this past summer when we played a huge outdoor event and we decided to make some changes prior to the event. We started out with two acoustic guitars; one rhythm and one lead originally. We were using congas/bongos most of the time. Our lead acoustic guitarist went to electric guitar and our drummer started playing a drum kit. This was the most exciting gig ever. We had this huge sound and the crowd was so responsive to the music, we thought we were on top of the world. Since that date we have been building a following around town.Do you guys party? What do you do after a gig?Gabe Larose: I would say that none of us really "party" too much, but we truly have fun. We're constantly laughing and cutting up with each other. We have daily responsibilities that we live up to so we don't go too far out on that party limb. Sometimes we do like to climb-out and bend that party limb a little though. We're usually playing so much that we don't have the opportunity to party much after a gig anyway. We usually go somewhere after a gig, sit down with some really good fatty foods and talk about the fun we had during the night's jamming. We'll make jokes about who's getting kicked out of the band, etc. We just laugh the night away.Do you have any CD's out now?Andy Benefield: Currently we do not have any CD's available. We are working on original material and we should be ready to hit the studio in the summer of 2007.When are your next gigs and where?Andy Benefield: Full Circle is booked to play at Leanne's in downtown Huntsville on February 9th and 10th, at 8:00 pm, February 16th, at 9:15pm at Humphrey's downtown and then again at Leann's downtown on February 23rd and 24th at 8:00pm. We have a weekly emailing that is sent out so that our "Full Circle of Friends" can keep up with where the band is playing. To get on Full Circle's mailing list you can send your email address to:
[email protected] is the band's collective dream for the future?Mike Lesnick: Planning and dreaming about the future gives us something to look forward to, it renews our sense of purpose and meaning and it helps our relationship as a band grow in strength and commitment, because we are operating as professional quality musicians. Our goal, like most musicians is to have more exposure and better opportunities.Full Circle builds upon the musical influences of the past and present. They're a cover band that is shaking up listeners in the Valley and beyond. Full Circle blends a true grasp of many genres of music with a sense of fun and makes you dance with a loose and/or crazy "groovy-ness." (Meaning of "Groovy": Pleasing; deeply satisfying.) From music of the 60's through the decades to modern music, Full Circle has it all covered.Full Circle's entire schedule can be found at www.myspace.com/fullcirclehsv. Please contact Andy Benefield for bookings at 256-337-8105.Myspace Layout Stealer Pimp Myspace
