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Nashua-based Humans Being bring the jam to Fody’s at 10 p.m. on Saturday

By ROBERT WALRATH - For The Telegraph | May 10, 2019

Nashua-based band the Humans Being will play their home stomping ground of Fody’s Tavern on Saturday night at 10 p.m.

Co-founders Brandon O’Grady and Tom Duda alternated between playing drums and guitar in middle school until a decade later, when the idea of creating a band became a reality.

“We just always played music together, dating back to concert band, and had a few songs that we would rock out on when we were young,” said O’Grady. “We never really did anything with it. But then ten years out, it flourished and eventually we were doing an open mic at Fody’s and our bassist Tom Philbrook came out of nowhere and wanted to play with us.”

The only missing element was keyboards, but soon the Humans Being found Matt Morello and created a foursome.

“He is incredible,” said O’Grady of Philbrook. He’s is meticulous when he plays and he’s such a professional.”

The group describes their sound as a “jam rock band,” but O’Grady said they play so many styles that it’s difficult to pigeon-hole their music.

“We play a lot of music that influenced us,” he said. “Definitely classic rock, some Spanish-tinged songs, dance music, psych rock and there’s a little metal in there, too.”

Although all four band members are from the greater Nashua area, they have played all over New Hampshire, in Boston and Lowell, and even Burlington, Vermont. O’Grady said they also have plans to include Maine in the future.

Growing up, O’Grady was raised on the classics but we’re not talking Beethoven.

“The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, those are just a few,” he said. “Over time, I started discovering more eclectic bands, like Emerson, Lake and Palmer. But then there was some really chill stuff that I enjoyed, and I went through a metal phase. But I also really love reggae and Bob Marley.”

O’Grady said Nashua has a tight community of artists and musicians that support and follow one another.

“We have a lot of friends in bands and personal, I have a lot of friends that will come out to see us,” he said. “And I also have a lot of friends that are running production companies and so that helps when a small festival comes up. We at least get our name tossed into it which is a pretty nice feeling.”

The band likes to incorporate a vibe to their live shows with lights and a heavier sound.

“It does help to have your own P.A. and system,” admitted O’Grady. “At Fody’s, we kind of have a limited light set up but it’s still pretty cool. We make the place dark and put a lot of colors on the wall. We have some spinning bulbs and lasers. But at the same time, when you play a larger venue, for example the Jewel in Manchester, they have a lighting guy and a sound guy, so you look and sound incredible.”

The group now focuses on original material and experiments with layered vocals and instrumentation.

“When we play as the whole band, we put our best material right out there,” said O’Grady. “And now with keyboards, we can loop the synthesizer, and use a beat box behind that, and play guitar over that and make it very theatrical.”

O’Grady said that even though all four band mates have day jobs, they thrive on the adrenaline of jamming and playing live.

“It is pretty tough to do it all together and often, we’re burning the candle at both ends because of playing out and we practice twice a week,” he said. “There’s a lot of stuff going on but we’re pretty restless people, so we like the hustle and bustle.”

Fans can expect a three-hour set, which in the past has ranged from Grateful Dead covers and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song interpretations, to playing “War Pigs,” the latter, O’Grady saying, “is how a lot of people got to know us.”

O’Grady circles back to the unity that lifts the spirits of local bands by having musicians support musicians.

“We have gained so many more friends, plus running the open mic on Wednesdays at Fody’s has been an asset” he said. “And that is so humbling – to have a place to hang out, and meet new people, but then see those same people coming out on Saturday’s to see our show and chill with us.”

O’Grady also cited the Nu Muse festival as an outlet for bands to discover bands.

“There is that great back and forth,” he said. “The Nu Muse festival that just happened is a good example of that. Because one of our band members was able to catch some of those other bands. There were musicians there to play and see other groups perform. It’s a great community here in Nashua.”

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