Every year, dozens of bands come and go from the jam band circuit so quickly it’s as if they had never existed — and that makes Ohio-based jam band The Werks’ uncanny rise to prominence even more exciting.
Formed in 2007, The Werks have quickly become one of the most sought-after young improvisational groups in the jam scene, appearing at several large festivals in 2011, including All Good Music Festival and Camp Bisco. The band will appear at the 8×10 in Baltimore on Saturday.
Unsurprisingly, The Werks’ popularity stems mainly from its hybridized style of music, which incorporates everything from funk to trance-fusion into long, exploratory sets.
“I’m very pleased with the way the music is going,” said guitarist Chris Houser. “As of right now, we are constantly progressing, taking little pieces of music we are interested in and playing what we like to hear. My influences, personally, are Phish and the Grateful Dead, String Cheese Incident and Umphrey’s McGee, but when I was younger I was more into [Jimi] Hendrix and Green Day. The rest of band was influenced by all kinds of music as well.”
In keeping with its influences, the band is tentatively scheduled to release its third studio album on April 20.
Houser noted that, this time around, the songwriting process was often just a spontaneous a mesh of ideas.
“It’s way different than playing live,” said Houser. “I was very uncomfortable going into the recording process — I’d much rather play on stage. Still, if you use your time wisely in the studio and get used to the process, it’s easier to get exactly what you want.”
Estimable chops aside, The Werks have gained further notoriety for a decidedly aggressive grassroots ad campaign.
Beyond more common tactics such as post-concert handouts and online ads, a swarm of free neon-yellow stickers invaded numerous summer festivals in 2011, all carrying the band’s brilliantly simple “Werk It!” slogan.
While some festival-goers thought it was a bit over the top, the band found most people willing to slap the bright stickers on caps and shirts, often for days at a time.
According to Houser, there was no doubt, after the fact, that the stickers had made an impact.
“It absolutely helped us a lot,” said Houser. “The phrase comes to mind: ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’ The more you see something the more you remember it. The term ‘Werk It!’ started with friends and fans, so we naturally decided to put it on the stickers and try to get people to wear them.”
Obviously, the group is doing something right, considering the band was able to host its own festival in 2011, the second annual Werk Out Music and Arts Festival.
There are already plans to bring the festival, which is located in Ohio amidst the band’s core fan base, back for a third round in September. Though he admits he had less to do with last year’s festival than the other members of the band and the festival managers, Houser is very cognizant of the work that goes into putting on a big festival and making an impression on the jam community.
“Last year was the second year, and it was twice as big,” said Houser. “It’s not just us, but a real big team that helps put the festival on. As far as being the band at the center of it all, very stressful and rewarding all at the same time. But in the end it’s definitely worth all the work.”
The Werks will perform at the 8×10 on Saturday. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10.
berman@umdbk.com
