Sunfall Festival, On the Verge of What?- MTV Online

With the recent release of their new EP On the Verge, SUNFALL FESTIVAL continues to forge ahead. Where and how they'll end up has yet to be determined but, in the meantime, the band's four members are taking nothing for granted and enjoying the ride as they go.

SUNFALL FESTIVAL is singer Amy Greetham, guitarist Scott Wiley, bassist George Brunt and drummer/percussionist Chris Peterson. The Provo-based band formed in 1996 when Wiley and Peterson, who had grown up together playing in various bands in and around Los Angeles, were introduced to Greetham. Live shows ensued when Brunt was added to the mix.

On the Verge is comprised of seven songs. The title track, a single which has garnered sustained airplay on radio station X96, is wrought with emotion that is conveyed as Greetham sings such lines as "I was on the verge of something good." Also on the disc are three more new songs -- "shot down," "sinking" and "changing" -- as well as an alternate version of "me in," a song which can be found in its original incarnation on SUNFALL FESTIVAL's 1997 self-produced full-length debut, Absolutely Splendid, and covers of two RADIOHEAD songs, "Bones" and "Nice Dream."

Having been picked up by entertainment law firm Davis and Shapiro, the band is actively pursuing a recording contract with a major label. Despite the current push to sign a record deal, however, SUNFALL FESTIVAL view themselves as a work in progress. "I think we picture ourselves as an evolving band, bands that aren't instant successes but just kind of build, get respect and build a following after a while and they're not like a flash in the pan," said Peterson.

There seems to be a definite dynamic to SUNFALL FESTIVAL; that is, each band member appears to have his/her own job within the context of the band. Said Peterson, "We all have our roles. Scott is definitely the producer/engineer, and I kind of do all the publicity and kind of the business side and even managerial stuff -- but not like I'm the manager. Amy has a great voice and is a natural musician. George, he's just kind of like a big bear. He's the peacemaker."

Wiley explained his role in SUNFALL FESTIVAL and his musical influences by saying, "I think that my part of the band is trying to make things as pretty as possible. Chris likes to get a real groove behind things, and I like stuff that's really pretty and fluid. I listen to all kinds of stuff, but the bands that really move me are always really pretty and also always had a real mood to their music."

According to Peterson, it's a bit intangible why it all works but obvious to him that the band functions on many different levels. "There are much more talented musicians than us in town -- that's for sure -- but I just think we click as a group. We all just gel really well together."

Until a record deal does or doesn't come along, SUNFALL FESTIVAL will, well, just keep on being SUNFALL FESTIVAL. They played shows recently at Spaceland (located in Silverlake, CA) on April 3 and Wrapsody Live on April 11. Upcoming plans include a slot which will have the band playing right before EVERCLEAR at Mayfest in Salt Lake City on May 15.

When the summer comes, SUNFALL FESTIVAL will be on hiatus. Wiley, Brunt, and Greetham will all be staying in Utah, but in June Peterson will be heading off to L.A. to work for Geffen/DGC Records. After that, who knows?

So spin it around however you want, but just remember that SUNFALL FESTIVAL, at its core, isn't hard to understand -- it's four people making music they can stand by. Wiley summed it all up nicely when he said, "We put a lot into our music, but we're not sitting around trying to make a huge musical statement. We're just trying to perform and produce something that we really like and that we feel is a good representation of us. And heck, if it's catchy, that's fine, too." --

Jamie Askar

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