When you go out to experience live music you want to feel not only the vibe of the music but the passion and the soul that it has and if there is ever a case for local music and live entertainment there is no better reason to go out than to experience the Susan Minton Project in Akron, Ohio.  The now three piece band are a great example of local music at its best and a must see show.  The band includes a great wealth of musical experience with all members having been in various bands and projects over the past several years and majically fuse together to create a hybrid of rock and blues displaying the tight sound of Adam Mercer on drums, Fred Fister on bass and Susan Minton on vocals and lead guitar. Fister and Mercer provide a solid rhythm and beat that lets Minton shine on vocals and play lead guitar, something you do not normally get to see with female fronted bands.  In addition to SMP Minton and Fister have a blues project band called the Red Devils .

 

Minton has performed with the band since the beginning when they formed in 2003 and have gone through some lineup changes.  She has performed previously with Beyond Control, Cherry Bomb, the Reform School Girls and the Downtown Band.   Be prepared for an intense night of high energy rock and roll as SMP delivers solid, passionate, riviting rock and roll that will energize your soul and get you on the dance floor.

"SMP started around 2003 with an entirely different lineup. We were originally, and up until last year, a 4 piece band, said Minton.  We now have scaled it to a 3 piece, guitar/vocals, bass and drums.  The beginnings were covers of blues songs that we liked.  Some old school but some modern, progressive blues. We also did some southern rock, 80’s and modern rock.  We are unique and are influenced from many different styles and genres.  If you don’t like one song, you may like the next, etc. In enjoying music, knowing is listening, no explanation necessary, just listen, hopefully, you’ll find something you like within it."
The current lineup have been together about a year now.  Although a majority of the show is cover material the band is adding original material and doing more writing according to Kresse.  "SMP, as it is now, began over a year or so ago. Recent highlights are the development of a studio for our own use for things like ideas, pre-production, etc. Lots of writing!"  She added, "We are working on 5 -6 new, original songs. Each one so far is uniquely different."

As for experiencing a live show you can expect a great collection of soulful driving music.  "I try to ask myself “man, if I walked into a bar, what would be cool to hear a band playing that every other band out there isn’t doing”. Also, it’s got to work as being a 3 piece. And, it’s got to fit vocally as well.  Having a lot of the same influences and tastes helps.  Especially when it comes to working on original songs or ideas.  I know when we’re working out a new song that Fred & Adam are going to lay something down that really grooves. Same thing when working on a cover song using our own take on the song."

With the increase in karoke and DJ's the SMP give fresh life and cause to support and experience local music.  "That there is always going to be continued value placed on local musicians who work hard to do what they do.  It seems like, over the years, that the need for having live music has decreased.  A lot of places have either a DJ or Karaoke, exclusively.  That can be a necessity as well, a lot of people enjoy DJ’s and Karaoke.  However, it will never have the same effect or take the place of a good live band, period."