By
Adam Pugh
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Band Fire Engine Red looks to spruce up Tucson music scene
The word "daisy" did not make much of an impression on media arts sophomore Derekh Froude.
Something about the word "red" did.
Comprised of four UA students just now beginning their music careers, Fire Engine Red is a band looking to revive the local music scene - and maintain a name that will leave a mark.
The original name for the group, Daisy, was quickly scrapped after the band realized it needed a better name, the band's bass player, Froude, said.
"We wanted a name that would leave an impression," he said. "We liked colors that stood out."
The band members wrote up a list consisting of more than 100 names. They then chose Fire Engine Red, the only one they said really fit the group's sound.
Despite being full-time university students, the members of Fire Engine Red are making moves toward becoming more established within the Tucson music scene. Even though they have played only five shows - all at Tucson venues - the members of Fire Engine Red said they plan to play more in the local area.
"There is some good stuff happening here (in Tucson), but it is pretty dry," Froude said.
Fire Engine Red - an Emo band with a sound similar to groups like the Get Up Kids and Jimmy Eat World - had already put together a six-song demo, which it submitted to several local bars in hopes of getting some play time on stage. The band was able to set up gigs at Skrappy's, 201 E. Broadway Blvd., and 7 Black Cats, 260 E. Congress St. Following these dates, a recording session for an album was the next logical step.
"A friend in Phoenix with all of the equipment to record with was more than willing to help us out," Froude said.
The band has been commuting to Phoenix whenever the members' schedules allow it. Since recording began, the band has laid down almost enough tracks to create a "roughly mixed CD," Froude said.
Although the members of the band have different tastes in music, they were able to agree on one sound for the band and stick to it.
Froude said that the band recognizes that "music is a powerful force." Regardless of any troubles they have endured on the road to success, they said they have found "despite all the odds, good can still come out of it."
Fire Engine Red started out with only two members - media arts junior Dan Espy and English sophomore Bryan Marskavetra, both friends from high school who went on to attend the UA. With their only instruments being a guitar and drums, they wrote songs for a band which they hoped would soon take form.
Froude said he later joined the band after he placed a classified ad in the Wildcat looking to start a band. Espy and Marskavetra, in need of a bass player for their fledgling band, responded to the ad and later invited Froude to join.
The group remained a three-piece outfit until a month ago, when Trevor Pancoast, a business senior, was asked to play guitar - which "completed the band's sound," Froude said. Trevor had played with the band before at Skrappy's while in another band.
Even though they have not performed on stage much, the members of Fire Engine Red said they felt it was time to start recording some of their songs for an album.
After the album's completion, Froude said the band plans on trying self-promotion instead of trying to get signed by a label.
Fire Engine Red performs Saturday at Skrappy's, 201 E. Broadway Blvd., at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, call 620-1824 or contact the band's Web site at www.u.arizona.edu/~jdf.
