DIGG the music later this month
I’ve mentioned many times the periods in Central New York past, where the area was a hotbed for blues or jazz. We’ve also have always had a strong acoustic rock and C&W scene.
But let’s face it, in Central New York, hard rock has ruled the roost since the 80s, with numerous bands rattling the windows with straight ahead hard driving electric guitars, pounding drums and aggressive vocals.
Now one of those hard-rocking bands is back.
DIGG, who had a successful six-year run starting in the early 2000s, never officially called it quits, but work and families brought about a break, if not a break-up.
Now, after a few line-up changes, the band DIGG brings back two original members of the band as well as two new members to rock area clubs again.
“I’m not going to say that the band ever really disbanded, insists lead vocalist Eric Clark, who recently concluded a stint with Simple Props. “We were on a hiatus over the years for various reasons, but we have always maintained DIGG throughout the years.
The current line-up of Clark, co-founding guitarist Fred Westcott and a rhythm section of drummer Jeff Owens and bassist Mike Farnsworth, is anxious to take the stage once more.
“We all still feel the need, that incredible itch to get out there and perform and rock the house,” explains Westcott. “It's in our blood.”
“I'm not ready to hang up the sticks just yet,” adds Owens.
From its first show in 2002, DIGG has built a strong following on a simple formula: a gritty sound of upbeat, instantly recognizable guitar driven tunes.
“We like to think of ourselves as a ‘hard-er rock band’ but certainly not a metal band,” describes Eric. “People could expect to hear much of the same stuff that they hear on the radio such as Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Seether, Godsmack, Fuel, Lit, Buckcherry, Shinedown, Bush, Limp Bizkit, and a couple rocked up remakes along the way.”
The problem, of course, is that with such a crowded live rock scene it’s tough for any band to stand out. But DIGG is up to the challenge.
“There are definitely a lot of bands that do very similar things to what we do. We are blessed to live in an area with such awesome talent. On any given night, someone can catch a great performance somewhere and we're just grateful to again be a part of that,” notes Clark. “I think the thing that probably sets us apart at this point is that as a band, we have such great chemistry and now we have that hunger all over again and we like to think that shows in our performance.”
You can get a chance to check out the revamped DIGG on Friday, June 28th at Nothin Fancy in Vernon when they perform a double bill with My Darling Dreadful. Show time is 8:30, with DIGG taking the stage at 10. Be sure to check facebook.com/diggrocks or www.diggrocks.com for additional dates.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Back again, it's DIGG
