Mas Agua delivers thirst quenching vibrations

Music fans thirsting for warm vibes and a driving beat will be served a refreshing treat by Mas Agua as they perform their CD release gig at Webby D’s in Fort Smith on Friday, Nov. 9.

In the otherwise cluttered cacophony of soulless bands in search of a solid sound Mas Agua emerges with a clear and concise pitch.

Recall the first time you heard a rocking record from the Scorpions, or Journey or Foreigner, or Led Zeppelin, or Nirvana, or got captured by the reggae rhythms of Bob Marley? Like so, the self titled first record from Mas Agua will leave an indelible mark on your musical memory.

Mas Agua transcends five decades of musical legacy and creates a fusion of sound that seamlessly weaves a polyphonic message of peace and harmony. Together for five years they have a repertoire of originals and unique covers of standard tunes which results in an uncategorical collage of soul quenching sounds.

Bassist Landon Turner sits tight in the pocket of Drake Simmons’ kick-drum creating a rock solid foundation to be gracefully decorated with Chris Cooper’s rhythm guitar and exuberantly crowned by Lee Young’s lead guitar and vocals. Mas Agua’s wide and diverse repertoire is fused by the crystal clear guitar riffs of Lee Young which conjure up a crossroad meeting with Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Carlos Santana.

Such comparisons are indeed warranted-the guitar spirits have blessed Lee with the ability to divine and transubstantiate musical notes into refreshing, life-giving water.

Each member of this band knows their role and the result is a quartet that creates a wall of rock and roll sound that will envelope you in a fabulous fusion of 1970’s rock bands, Moody Blues, Kansas, Chicago, Styx, etc. laced with a Bob Marley, bluesy, funky drive and a lead guitar that will send you over the edge in transcendent solos.

This band will make you believe that the healing powers of rock and roll are alive and well in another generation of talented musicians.

Mas Agua’s self titled record, mixed by Tom Ware, contains 10 original tracks that nicely showcase their skills. “Sophia” is an exuberant fusion of Chris Isaak meets the Romantics. It has a fun, wonderful driving beat that will send you down the sidewalk looking for your lost love. While youthful in spirit it captures a mature meditation on unrequited love. Fair warning: Mas Agua cannot be held liable for any speeding tickets received while listening to this record.

“Rainin’” is quintessential Mas Agua. This hard driving track opens with a powerful vocal riff from Lee Young followed by strong guitar licks that will recall Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Couldn’t Stand the Weather.”

In an era of hysterical, apocalyptic warnings, and millenarian cults, Mas Agua delivers a message of an ensuing flood that we should welcome with open arms, an invitation for the rains and storms to please come and wash away our iniquities, to baptize us in the water of forgiveness, deliver us unto our rock and roll salvation, and leave us thanking the heavens for more water.

The band keeps it real with tracks such as “Still Small Voice” and “Hisani.” The later is a mixed bag of musical genres from didgeridoo, to brass horns, and do-wops-yeah, really. The net result is a peaceful message of meditation and assurance presented in an absolute fantastical eclecticism of sound.

The instrumental “Keys and Parrots” closes this tour de force record with a signal anthem from Mas Agua to all those who had given up on hearing an original Rock n’ Roll sound. Only those wandering the Garrison who fail to partake of Mas Agua will go thirsty this night.