ETHNIX

TREASURED CONTENTMENT FOUND IN 5 MUSCIANS

If you haven’t heard the Ethnix band playing around town, you are missing one of the best local bands on the coast. Ethnix hypnotizes the crowd with their flowing, tight sounds. The band has been together about three years, and now, with the addition of infamous local guitarist, Andy Lee, they are playing better then ever. Ethnix is beginning to attract attention everywhere with their unique sound. To describe them best, I will say that Ethnix is an excellent, mellow rock band. They have outstanding acoustic and guitar skills with one untouchable voice used in conjunction with the band to portray original compositions as well as a various range of cover songs, in a very favorable light I must add. All together this band has fantastic playing abilities and a background ambience that will make goose bumps of excitement shiver all over you. Ethnix, plain and simple, is just a good-feeling, good time! Ethnix plays "new stuff", "old stuff", and "any stuff" in between that caters to whatever any listener is in the mood for.

Patti Mayfeild is proud to say that the bands talents are not limited. They have a little song for everyone’s taste. Ethnix simply plays songs that they enjoy as well as the well-known favorites. The five musicians who make up this band are David "Brillo" Morris, Frank Bridges, Andy Lee, and husband and wife team, Robert and Patti Mayfield. Patti is the front man of the group. She says that she doesn’t have a normal woman’s voice and that her deep voice naturally just makes it easier for her to sing "guy" songs. And…. When she’s not belting out a tune, she’s using her air and energy playing the harmonica. Although Patti has a lifetime of musical practice, she started professionally ten years ago while living on the Hawaiian Islands. Robby Mayfield started playing music at the age of eleven. His first instrument was a banjo. His banjo picking morphed into some serious guitar playing which gave him the opportunities to play with well-known artists such as Steve Warner, James House, Tracy Lawrence, Canyon, and McBride & the Ride. Robby has won awards for his keen knack for song writing, and using this knack, he has successfully had three original bands, Destiny, Sierra, and now Ethnix.

Andy Lee is the "new" guy of the group, but you would never know. Andy’s experience consists of over an incredible twenty years. After a four year run in Nashville and a three-year run in Vegas, he has returned home and made quite a name for himself on the coast. Like Robby, Andy has also played with some big time artists, who include The Platters, Coasters, Jerry Springer, Yanni, Rose Tattoo, Coral Reef, The Whooten Brothers, Doug Superknaw, and Chad Brock. Ethnix bass Guitarist is David "Brillo" Morris. Brillo played the club and college circuit with the band Dave and the Giants. From Brillo’s docile energy, Andy’s hardedge, and a mix of the smooth sounds of Robby, you get some relentless fingering that creates a three man wall of sound. Frank Bridges, Ethnix drummer, beats to all music styles ranging from jazz, rock, techno, pop, dance, funk, and even country. He has also worked with some big timers, just to name a few, Ben E. King, The Shirrelles, Martha Reeves, and Myron Floren.

These five multi-talents deliver an impressive delicacy that whips back and forth into pulsing syncopation and then spreads out into a virtuosic performance. Ethnix’s compositions are more than the mere music offered to us by other cover bands and contemporary scenes, this band has a melding of disparate styles rendered by compatible, perfect rhythm. Ethnix’s music truly represents a rare talent. I cannot stress the extent of enjoyment that I personally have gotten many a nights from this band. To be down right honest, Ethnix has it all, burning guitar rifts, a nice harmony, a cool beat, and an amazing voice to back all of this talent up. I highly recommend you check Ethnix out as soon as you can. You can catch them the 13^th at Biloxi’s Seafood Festival, or if you’re in the mood for a worthwhile road trip, you can follow them to the Big Spring Jam in Huntsville, Alabama September the 27^th. And….. last but not least, incase you couldn’t tell, Ethnix is one of my ultimate, favorite local bands. Go see them, and you’ll see why.