Local band gives listeners music to move the Soul

Local modern rock band SoulDriver has been playing live shows in the Phoenix metropolitan area since 2002.

The group, which originally formed when guitarist Fred Vergnetti brought drummer Troy Fronterhouse and his friend and lead guitarist Matt Manion into the band, has been through a couple of phases of musicians throughout the years.

"When we started out, it was myself and another guy who is no longer in the band, then Troy, Matt and I got together. From there, SoulDriver came together," Vergnetti said. "The name SoulDriver comes from the hope that the music moves the listener's soul."

The band has five members who are all in their mid- to late-30s. The group consists of two guitarists, Matt Manion and Fred Vergnetti, bassist Randy Bush, drummer Troy Fronterhouse and lead singer Scott McGettrick.

The group's recently-released second album Turmoil is a disk they have been working on for about a year and a half.

"We put more time into this album. It is a little darker, more mysterious, and more contemporary than our first album, and it has a romantic quality to it," lead singer Scott McGettrick said.

The new album shows the range of SoulDriver as a modern rock band with a more contemporary sound than heard on their first album.

"I realize how much growth has occurred since our last album," lead guitarist Matt Manion said. "I feel a great sense of accomplishment with this disk."

Performing with SoulDriver has been a good experience for McGettrick, who does lead vocals for the band.

"Being a part of SoulDriver has been fantastic for me. It allows me to get the quick fix of being in front of people and get that attention. It is really great as a vocalist, to be able to show my vocal talent, too," McGettrick said.

Randy Bush, bassist for SoulDriver has been with the band for nearly three years.

"Entertainment has been a part of my life forever," he said. "I continue to pursue music for the love of it."

Drummer Troy Fronterhouse, who started playing when he was 10 years old, appreciates SoulDriver's collective fan base.

"I have been pretty involved with music, studying or teaching music for most of my life," he said. "One thing I like about SoulDriver is that we are not the stereotypical rock band. We have fans who range in age from teenagers to adults in their 50s."

Bush, who has been playing the bass since he was 12, also handles the majority of the band's promotions and has plans to take his band mates out of state in the future.

"I plan to take the guys out to Los Angeles soon for some gigs, and more exposure," Bush said.

SoulDriver is a modern rock band that performs once a month at venues around the Phoenix metropolitan area. SoulDriver has opened for many bands, including the international act Porcupine Tree, and also opens for the Atomic Punks regularly at the Marquee Theater in Tempe.

For more information on the band, visit www.souldriverband.com.

Stephanie Riel is interning this summer at the AFN. She is a senior at Arizona State University.