Roundhouse Groove brings funk to Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg is graced with very few successful musical venues. However, those it does have offer a vivacious nightlife that welcomes all. Benny's Boom Boom Room is a prime example of a locally owned and maintained establishment that supports local talents.

Roundhouse Groove is one of many local musical groups that has received support from the Boom Boom Room.

"Benny's given us a lot of great opportunities, and he gave us our first start," said guitarist Zac Evans. "Because of him we've opened for popular acts such as Flowtribe, Purpetrator numerous times, Revivalist and Moon Taxi."

Roundhouse Groove is a funky rock band that began in October 2009 with Evans on guitar accompanied by Ben Brassfield on harmonica, Josh Davidson on bass, Matt Herbert on drums, Colt Browning on keyboard and Heath Parker on vocals. They recently returned from a summer hiatus the band agreed upon to recharge energies and to welcome two new baby girls, daughters to two band members, into the world.

They are hoping for a funktastic turnout for their show at the Boom Boom Room this Saturday at 10 p. m. Admission will be $6.

The sound the Groove promises will echo their medley of musical influences, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Funkadelic, Parliament, The Meters, Zeppelin and a lot of hip-hop such as Public Enemy, Jay-Z, Mos Def and Black Star.

"The easiest way to tell how diverse we are is to look at the covers we've done," Brassfield said. "They range between everything from The Doobie Brothers, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd to Muddy Waters and Public Enemy."

The band is enthusiastic about cultivating a vibrant music scene in Hattiesburg.

"Local bands have helped cultivate this downtown culture," Brassfield said. "We're trying to develop a music scene here that doesn't exist. It'd be cool to see it pop off. In order for it to build it depends on everybody's involvement with it, not just musicians."

"A lot of our focus right now is getting the material out there and reestablishing ourselves on the scene," Herbert said.

Saturday night will mark the official end to the band's hiatus, and they promise the sounds spilling out of the Boom Boom Room will be new and improved. Fans should be prepared to expect something new from these guys.

"Other people are talking about us, and I've heard those comments, some from the president of South City Records," Brassfield said. "We want to be more involved so people recognize us as a community band. And we're students."

"We're a direct product of USM," Evans said.