Friends that play together, stay together. Just ask guitarist Jason Ehizokhale, 26, or the other five members of the Indianapolis-based band Audiodacity.
The musically and ethnically-diverse group releases new music Friday, March 20 in the “SUIT UP!!! Official Audiodacity CD-Release Party” presented by Shine Indy with help from Indy In-Tune at the Vogue Theatre, 6259 N. College Ave.
Ehizokhale, who expresses pride in the Nigerian heritage and work ethic he inherited from his parents, Thomas and Patricia, cites “luck” as one of the keys to the group’s rise on the Naptown music scene. “I think, we just got lucky,” reflected Ehizokhale, in a phone interview on the eve of the debut release.
“Long before, we became a band, we’ve all been best friends. More than anything, we’re six really, really close friends, like brothers. We just happened to have the instruments to have a funk, hip hop, pop, rock band.”
In addition to Ehizokhale, who also plays sax and provides backup vocals, the five band musician friends include: Ben Jarvis, 27, vocals, trumpet; Cody Herring, 27, guitar, trumpet, backup vocals; Mike Sheldon, 21, bass; Adam Woodgett, 27, drums, vocals; and Will Skirvin, 28, sax.
“Ben and I went to Westlake Elementary School, we met Cody Herring at junior high, Will at Ben Davis, and Adam at Ball State. We’ve been a band about two and half years, and through a long series of auditions, we found Mike in August 2013,” said Ehizokhale.
The Rob Dixon Trio is playing at 7 p.m., Party Lines is at 9 p.m. Chicago Loud 9 is at 10. Audiodacity is on at 11 p.m.
“I met Rob Dixon at a Twin Cats show with (late jazz singer) Cynthia Layne. I caught him at various events, and I took a lesson or two with him sometime last year,” said Ehizokhale.
Saxman Dixon said that his trio, which includes Steven Jones on keys and Brian Yarde on drums, is “categorically very versatile” and thus, a natural fit for the Audiodacity launch opening set at 8 p.m. (Note: The Rob Dixon Trio has a regular gig each Monday at the Chatterbox, 435 Massachusetts Ave., from 8-11 p.m.)
The group Party Lines is also providing excitement to the evening’s performance. Ehizokhale noted that established musician Richard “Sleepy” Floyd is the manager of Party Lines. “Sleepy is a phenomenal drummer,” commented Ehizokhale. “I’ve caught him on Native Sun and his other projects.”
What can Indy expect from the CD? “This is our debut effort, and the style of music on our cd, it’s everywhere,” reflected Ehizokhale.
“Funk, pop rock, heavy rap, top 40 rock, we have some soul, we have some reggae. We cut them from many genres. Our newer songs, we cut them together more seamlessly. We hear the later songs, it’s our progression as a band.”
“I think that’s really the trend in today’s music, no one is really defined by one genre any more,” he said. “We’re six members, but we all love different musical tastes. For example, if Adam writes a song, we all have a different idea what to play, on that melody. “
To purchase tickets for the event, visit www.thevogue.com/event/771983-audiodacity-cd-release-party-indianapolis
