Local Spins Artist Spotlight Excerpt: "Grand Haven's Room Full of Elephants mixes styles, works to inspire others with its music"

The band has taken its roots-based rock music to the next level, with members pushing comfort levels to create "a new different sound." The group makes its SpeakEZ Lounge debut Wednesday.

By Matt Marn

Published by Local Spins - September 27, 2016

Some members of the Grand Haven band Room Full of Elephants have played together for nearly a decade, while others have joined the group only recently.

Regardless of tenure, they can't wait to see where they are headed next.

What began as a duo grew into something greater over time. Room Full of Elephants vocalist Matt Spofford said he and drummer Chris Sabota used to play gigs together as part of a trio that later disbanded.

Spofford said that for a band's survival, it is important to find members with not only similar styles and schedules, but also the same passion.

"Everyone has a reason they aren't in a band anymore," Spofford said. "These bands grow tough to stay together and to thrive sometimes, We need to really practice, and have our game put together. The audience deserves that."

As time went on, Spofford hosted an open mic night, and a player came out one night that caught his attention. Dustin Mason had been playing guitar for years, with a musical background full of influences from Sublime to Bob Marley to Jack Johnson. Those influences - as well as plenty of hints of jazz and R&B - snuck into his songwriting.

When Mason was welcomed into what would become Room Full of Elephants, it was the first time he had played with a band.

"I showed up and started playing once a week with them," Mason said. "It quickly became pretty organic. I started playing Matt's songs, so I got to develop my rhythm guitar skills as we went."

Spofford said that with a hybrid blend of his original songs, and now Mason's original songs, the group was able to add variety to its style.

"For the longest time, the sets were our songs between the two of us, with the rest of the band supporting and adding in their own styles," Mason said. "We played some pop-up festivals and a few house parties, but something was still missing. We needed a media kit: a demo CD to apply for slots at higher-end gigs and venues."

They locked in a recording session with producer Bleu Van Dyke. Spofford said Van Dyke was not afraid to add his own thoughts, pushing the group and even adding his own licks and performances along the way.

"His ear for elaboration and his harmony stood out to me right from the beginning," Mason said. "I realized that is what we had been missing."

The group soon asked Van Dyke to be its bassist. He quickly learned their original songs to catch up with the band, and it only got better from there.

"Bleu took our group to the next level, 100 percent," Mason said.


Read more on Room Full of Elephants in the complete artist spotlight article, only from Local Spins!