4onthefloor and Tearing Up the Country

A couple weeks ago we brought you the sounds of Minneapolis based group 4onthefloor, a group drenched in a fury of blues, rock and Midwest work ethic. They are proof that the Midwest is still producing pure rock and roll artists and original sounds. Since hearing the first kick of the bass drum on their song “Bricklayer” we were hooked and we were intrigued. We knew we had to talk to these guys and get to know more about their sound and their story. So last week we sat down with front man Gabe Douglas for a good old fashioned interview, to learn more about the stompin’ blues, roots rock boys from Minnesota.

Many wonder how four rag-tag boys from the Midwest came together to produce a sound that we’ve coined “Rust Belt Rock,” a mix of 4-4 rhythm, blues guitars and a bellowing, honest voice. Their story starts out much like you would probably expect, “…two friends sitting on top of guitar amplifiers in a second story vacant bedroom in a non-descript house, tapping out rootsy, bluesy songs to each other” explains front man Gabe Douglas that “friend” was James Gould (bd2). After Gould and Douglas spent a few years playing in bands together around Duluth, they set their sights on the big city. “When I moved down to Minneapolis to work at the Varsity Theater, we started playing together again… As we started thinking of where we wanted the project (at that time) to go, it delved into a delta-inspired bourbon bottle.” Soon enough more people wanted to sip out of that delta-inspired bourbon bottle and they soon welcomed in Mark Larson (bd4) and Chris Holm (bd3) to form what everyone now knows as 4onthefloor.

(c) mplstv

Douglas had a vision for the band and was able to find 3 stellar musicians to back his bellowing vocals. The band taps into American music in its purest form, orchestrated by Douglas who told us his own influences growing up in northern Minnesota, near the Canadian border, “I remember listening to oldies growing up, finding my own music on contemporary radio and Canadian alt-rock radio, depending on the weather, we could get most of [Winnipeg’s] stations, showing me Sam Roberts Band, Tragically Hip, Sloan, Treble Charger, & so many other great bands that otherwise go unnoticed stateside.” Even with exposure to different bands and genres he claims (as any good MWG does) that he “always dived back in to the classics.”

It is this exposure that put Gabe on the fast track to musicianship, all starting in the Midwest. For most people, they wouldn’t consider the Great Lakes region the hub of entertainment. Many try to follow their dreams of stardom on stages in New York or LA but almost always end up back home. For the boys of 4onthefloor, they chose their own path, “I could never imagine a better scene than the one I am in” says Gabe, “I am sure other cities have great bands… But I have never been disappointed by a Minneapolis band that I adore. I thought long and hard about moving instead of instilling roots but Minnesota is where I belong for the time being.”

That got us wondering, with the all the places they have played and all the bands they have seen, what is it about growing up in the Midwest that makes them differ from their coastal counterparts? Gabe told us, “We are a hard-working band… It’s crazy to go to the coast and play with bands with no work ethic or no sense of time. We are a dependable, honest band.”

That work ethic and honest sound has made them friends all around the country and have given them a reputation of playing there music wherever there are people willing to stomp. Whether it is a rooftop in Minneapolis or a basement party in St. Paul or even a full blown music video production for their song “Working Man Zombie (WMZ),” 4onthefloor appreciates their fans and shows them a good time no matter where they are.  Gabe reflected on it with the modesty that you would expect from a MWG, “We honestly love playing music. There is something intimate and rewarding playing rooftops, playing bonfires, playing basements and playing beaches… Being in a full blown production was something we would love to do again, but we are no movie stars.”

Once you hear these guys play, you are bound to come back for more. They have a sound that sticks to the basics, a stripped down feel that is deeply enriched in American roots. The stomping 4-4 time that defines them is all you need to get the party started. With 4onthefloor what you see is what you get, four stellar musicians playing the music they love for rowdy Midwesterners who are ready to kick back a few Grain Belts and stomp the night away.

The boys are currently on tour and invite you to come check them out. If you want to see them in all their glory, you might want to visit them on their home turf, Minnesota. Although, you might not find them on a rooftop again you will find them tying one on at their favorite watering holes which include, The Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, Gabe told us “they have the best bartenders, best local brews, best brunch, and best sound in the Midwest.” If you find yourself in Duluth, you might find them in Fitger’s, “the best brewery” Gabe says he has ever been to, “They have plastic growlers so you can bring them out camping.” Finally, before we bid Gabe adieu we had to ask him what he pictures when he hears the term “Midwestern Gentleman” and with no hesitation he says, “A lumberjack in the city holding the door open.”

Well played sir, well played.

For more information on 4onthefloor visit:

http://www.4otf.com
http://www.myspace.com/the4onthefloor
http://www.twitter.com/the4onthefloor
http://www.youtube.com/the4onthefloor
http://www.facebook.com/the4onthefloor#!/the4onthefloor?sk=info

Cheers…

Tags: Minnesota, Music, Rock and Roll

This entry was posted on April 19, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under Media, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.