Foxtrot Zulu is a seven member rock band

Rock Band

Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...

 based in Providence, Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...

. The band has released five albums and performed over 1000 shows.

History

In 1991, while attending the University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island

The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...

, Nate Edmunds and Neal Jones, high school pals from Devon, Pennsylvania found themselves inhabiting the archetypical college role of "the guys playing guitar in the other room" at the myriad and sundry house parties the institution was then infamous for. Because they didn't suck, the duo would attract listeners and participants alike, often growing into impromptu jam sessions fueled by common interest in the Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...

 and classic rock.

As time went on, the group grew organically to include drums bass and saxophone, and eventually began to fulfill requests to play at parties under the ad hoc moniker "Nate, Neal and those guys". Soon after, trumpet and percussion rounded out the septet and a musical equilibrium was reached: no members have been added or removed since. Nate (lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Rhythm guitar

Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...

), Neal (lead vocals, lead guitar

Lead guitar

Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...

), Paul Miller (percussion

Percussion instrument

A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...

), Jeff Roberge (drums

Drum kit

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....

), Jeff Light (trumpet

Trumpet

The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...

, flugel horn, vocals

Singing

Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...

, harmonica

Harmonica

The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...

), and Terryston "TK" Kyan (saxophone

Saxophone

The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...

, mandolin

Mandolin

A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...

, vocals, piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

). Brad Haas (bass guitar

Bass guitar

The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

, vocals, lead guitar

Lead guitar

Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...

). After developing a respectable stable of original songs as well as time tested covers, the ensemble first performed under the name Foxtrot Zulu in the spring of 1993.

Throughout its existence, Foxtrot has always believed in giving back to the community, as evidenced by the fact that at one point or another, each of its members has worked at Perspectives Corporation, a company devoted to bettering the lives of those individuals with developmental disabilities, located in South County, Rhode Island. The group has also shown their devotion to the bettering the community by playing a number of benefit concerts, one accessible example of this can be found in the group's only professionally produced live recording, Live..., which showcases the highlights of a two night stand at The Ocean Mist Bar, a local watering hole located in Matunuck, Rhode Island

Matunuck, Rhode Island

Matunuck is a village in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States near Charlestown, Rhode Island. The village is located on a point along the southern Atlantic coast of Rhode Island off of U.S. Route 1...

.

This tradition was once again called into play after the tragedy of 9-11, when Foxtrot Zulu, along with Sublime

Sublime (band)

Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell , Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh . Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's...

 cover band Badfish

Badfish

Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime is a tribute band dedicated to playing the music of Sublime and not to be confused with the original "Badfish" from Southern California. The group is named after a song appearing on the album 40oz. to Freedom...

 shared a bill at The Ocean Mist to benefit the families of those who worked at Windows on the World

Windows on the World

Windows on the World was a complex of venues at the top floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan that included a restaurant, Windows on the World, a smaller restaurant called Wild Blue, and a bar called The Greatest Bar on Earth, as well as rooms for private functions...

, the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center

World Trade Center

The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...

. All proceeds from that night were donated to survivors and their families.

The band shares in the tradition of the Grateful Dead, Phish

Phish

Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...

 and many other "jam bands" in welcoming the recording and trading of recordings of their shows. The band's archivist welcomes any visitors to his website TaperJay.com to requests for copies of shows that he has amassed.

Current

The band has recorded their fifth album, titled Tonight. It contains many crowd favorites that had yet to make their way onto any of their four previous releases. This includes the track "Boulevard" in a much shorter form than the live version, due mainly to the shortening of the extensive drum solo usually found between the chorus and the second verse. The album also features guest vocalist and executive producer Marc Roberge, from O.A.R.

O.A.R.

O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...

.
In true Foxtrot Zulu fashion, the song "Tonight" does not appear on the album. This is also true of the bands prior releases. "Moe's Diner", the song, does however appear on Burn Slow.

Discography

• Moe's Diner (1995)
• Burn Slow (1997)
• Frozen In Time (1999)
• Tonight (2008)

Live album:

• Live... (2000)