FTB begins promotional blitz for release of its 'Pouring Rain' CD

The band has inked a recording deal with a California indie label.

The real hard work is just beginning for FTB (formerly Flip Top Boxx), but the band is now one step closer to grasping what has become the gold ring for modern rock musicians -- to make a sustainable wage just by playing music.

The Cape Girardeau-area alt-metal group is facing some long odds in today's marketplace. In the year 2005, rock bands aren't novelties anymore, they're as common as iPods and cell phones. And even independent labels don't commonly look for talent in small markets like Cape Girardeau.

But the band was able to ink a recording deal with California indie label JetSpeed Records, which cuts recordings for artists from hip-hop to metal to country. FTB members drummer Andy Clark, lead guitarist Rodney Valleroy, bassist Bill Stokely and singer/guitarist Darrel Tallevast returned from a trip to Los Angeles late last week after spending eight days there recording 11 tracks, 10 of them for a record that will be called "Pouring Rain" and is currently slated for a September or October release.

The schedule may seem grueling at first glance, but band members say the sessions were simple and short.

"That digital stuff makes it so easy if you know your material," guitarist/singer Tallevast said. "Andy laid all 11 of his tracks down in four hours."

While not recording, the band got to go out and see the sights, like the Hollywood Walk of Fame (which they recommend everyone should see) and The Whiskey and The Rainbow, places where the likes of Led Zeppelin and The Doors have played.

Of course, both the Whiskey and the Rainbow are places they hope to play some day.

Now that the band has returned home to Southeast Missouri, the work of promotion begins.

"Now we really got to push it. They're not going to do it for us," said Stokely. FTB's work involves getting in the trenches, going to venues and playing live shows on a local level and, if all goes well, on a regional level.

FTB's success is largely governed by how things go in terms of touring. The label will get them exposure on indie radio in the Midwest and in Southern California, and if the music meets with high demand the band will get more support, like touring help.

So to get that demand whipped up, the band plans to hit the road. Tonight they play their first promotion show at Players, where they'll also be on Saturday. Next week it's on to Broussard's on Thursday.

The band hopes soon to be playing four to seven days a week, and Tallevast said the best scenario would include both success for FTB and other members of the local metal scene.

Information on the album release will soon be posted on www.jetspeedrecords.com.

msanders@semissourian.com

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