LIZ ANASTASIADIS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMERITUS– Looking for a new band to listen to? Well, The Main Squeeze (TMS), a band formed at Indiana University (IU), has your remedy: “Dr. Funk.”
The Main Squeeze is an American funk band from Bloomington, Indiana. Currently located in Los Angeles, the Squeeze House is their location for all things TMS amidst the pandemic.
The band’s members consist of Corey Frye (Lead Singer); Ben “Smiley” Silverstein (keys); Max Newman (guitar); Reuben Gingrich (drums); and Rob Walker (bass). The Denisonian had the opportunity to interview lead singer Corey Frye and keyboard player Smiley.
The pandemic has allowed the band to experiment with livestream shows where people are able to see their performances from around the world. Without being able to go on tour, like the rest of the entertainment industry, they’re holding on. Smiley says that “it’s been both a blessing and a curse,” that they’ve been able to focus on writing more, and preparing for when they can get back on the road.
In their music video cover of the hit song “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” lead singer Frye belted out notes in the backyard with smooth jazzy undertones, Newman climbed onto the roof and shredded the guitar, while Smiley played the keyboard in their swimming pool surrounded by Walker and Gingrich. The video ended with Newman dropping his guitar and jumping into the pool.
Some members met through pure luck and circumstance at a bar near IU, when Smiley went on stage and played and Frye came up to jam with him. Afterward, they didn’t see each other for a while, but their memorable performance stuck in their minds. They soon saw each other again near campus, and the rest is history.
When asked about the inspiration behind the band name, Smiley said it was inspired by a dream of one of the original band members, where he was extremely thirsty only to be met by a fridge overflowing with oranges.
Their most famous album named after the band depicts the members looking at a fridge overrun by oranges, a play on the band’s name.
Another thing that the band often does are covers on YouTube. With songs by Jimi Hendrix and Prince to Pink Floyd and The Beatles, they add their own flare to the original. Their most popular cover is of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” which has over 15 million views on the platform. Their covers can now also be found on streaming platforms under the name Squeeze House.
“It’s hard to get the attention of random people,” says Smiley. “So, we do that by showing them something that they recognize… People like to hear what they know, but we still like to perform our own music.”
Some of TMS’s most famous original tracks include “I’ll Take Another,” “Karma,” “Only Time,” “The Roux” and “This World.” Their virtual tour “Squeeze House Live,” featuring livestream performances on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, has been another way they’ve navigated the pandemic without being on tour. Their upcoming virtual event will be February 28 at five p.m. PST / eight p.m. EST.
When asked about their advice for up and coming musicians and students looking to get into the industry, Frye said “Find some like-minded individuals in the music industry… Do what you do best and stand out as you.”
Smiley said to “be ready for a long journey, you aren’t going to get where you want overnight. Enjoy the process, it’s not a quick and easy success story, but get ready to work hard.”
To get updated on all things Squeeze-related, follow them on Instagram (@instasqueeze), Twitter (@mainsqueezeband), Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube (MainSqueezeMusic) and check out their website (www.mainsqueezemusic.com).