by Bryan Gibel
Daily Lobo
Although Crazy Fool is now a vital part of Albuquerque's reggae scene, it came from humble
beginnings.
"I had the pleasure of being stuck in the dorms with this guy named Matt Fitch when I came to school in 1999," said Ben "Brightest Sol" Williams, lead singer and songwriter of the band. "We were roommates really out of fate. We started out
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jamming in the Santa Ana dorms."
Fitch plays trombone and sings back-up vocals. The band members are from central and northern New Mexico. Taos native Williams said the band became serious about music in 2002. Crazy Fool released two albums and headlined over-capacity shows at Fall Crawl, Spring Crawl and the Launchpad.
One key to the band's success is the message built into Crazy Fool's music, Williams said.
"The themes that always reoccur in the music are having fun, collectivity and positivity among people," he said. "We try to be uplifting at all times. We tend to speak politically and spiritually, as well."
Drummer Daniel Gonzalez del Real describes the band's music as a fusion of high energy and eclecticism.
"One of my biggest influences has been ska, but we also draw on roots reggae, dub and hip-hop," he said. "If you can describe your music in a couple of words or a genre, I feel you've failed to reach your potential."
Crazy Fool self-produced and distributed its first album, Pura Vida, in 2003. Josh Shepherd, the group's trumpet player, DJ and producer, said about 250 copies have been sold - all independently.
However, Crazy Fool's progress has met with obstacles, Williams said.
"The most difficult moment was probably when our bass player, one of the original and founding members of Crazy Fool, left a couple of years into the band when things were looking really good," he said.
Linking up with bass player Kelly Bott and recording the group's new album were major turning points in Crazy Fool's career, Williams said.
"The album we just did that was released in December, Train of Thought, took us nine months to make, but the process was amazing," he said.
Shepherd said the disc has sold about 500 copies since its release, with Internet sales reaching as far as Canada, Spain and Japan.
In the future, Crazy Fool wants to take its music as far as it can go, Williams said.
"We want to get out on the road more and venture out beyond the Southwest," he said.
They also want to do more things for the community, Williams said.
"I think it's important for bands that really care to do benefit shows," he said.
Williams said Crazy Fool will perform March 17 at a benefit to raise money for Santa Fe Public Schools' art programs. But the band's future ambitions are not its top priority, Williams said.
"All I can really say is it's a pleasure to make music with your best friends day in and day out," he said. "So, I really want to just continue to do that for as long as we'll be allowed."
