by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Chris Booras founded C5 in 2000 as an alt-rock cover band. Since then, the band has crafted some original material that it mixes in with its modern rock repertoire. I crossed paths with C5 at Brewsters last Saturday night and met Chris Booras in the audience. He broke his wrist skateboarding, so he hired Eric Lynn on guitar to sit in with the band until his injury is healed. Chris’ bandmates chide him for risking injury skateboarding in the first place. Nonetheless, accidents happen to musicians like in any other profession.
The band’s main influences include Seether, Bush, Tool, 3 Doors Down, and Green Day, just to name a few. The C5 lads are always updating their material to keep it current and new, so they’re not playing the same song list at every gig. Along with Chris Booras on guitar (Eric Lynn) the band includes Fred Cruz on bass, Jim O’Callaghan on drums, and Nate Dickinson on lead vocals.
These serious players are all experienced musicians. Chris has been playing the regional scene for 10 years. Drummer, Jim O’Callaghan joined the band in early 2002, but his resume dates back to 1982. Prior to joining C5, Jim played for 4 years at Auburn University, then he joined a band called Fausch. He performed with this modern rock band throughout South Alabama and Florida’s Panhandle.
C5’s frontman, Nate Dickinson, joined the band in 2004. Nate has been playing regionally as a singer/songwriter and solo acoustic artist for many years. He’s an experienced musician who has a distinctive voice, reminiscent of Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Bassist Fred Cruz is a guitarist who switched to bass for C5. Fred’s diversity and musical talent as a back-up vocalist have greatly enhanced C5’s sound.
To his credit, Eric Lynn seemed to fit in well with the band. On a few songs he was struggling because he hadn’t had enough time to fully learn that particular song. But he pulled it off like a true professional. It’s always difficult to bring in a stranger to substitute for a regular band member. But Eric was working hard to smoothly cover the gaps in his knowledge of the group’s repertoire. Being a substitute player allowed Eric to improvise more than he would normally which made the group more interesting.
Individually, I asked each player to tell me about their influences. Chris said he has many eclectic influences including The Smashing Pumpkins, Staind, Alice in Chains, Tool, Fusebox, and 311. On stage influences include all the members of 311, William Patric and Maynard Keenan.
Nate said his father rammed The Beatles down his throat, so, naturally, the Fab 4 were a huge influence. “But my music definitely does not sound like the Beatles. The Mop Tops made me excited about creating original music. After that, I got into the grunge era and I never looked back. Pearl Jam, Nirvana, STP, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Tool, and many other groups of that time turned me on.”
Bassist, Fred Cruz was more cynical about his influences. He launched a political tirade that was bound to offend just about everyone, which was cool. Summarizing his thoughts–he says he hates big government but then again most people are too stupid to think for themselves, let alone be trusted with making decisions. Pictures of 9/11, the Kurdish atrocities, and the Berg beheading should be shown on TV daily to keep people from forgetting what it is we are fighting and why, instead of candy-ass whining insurgent prisoners who were exposed to a little male skin on skin action. Right!
Yes, like the guy in Network, Fred is mad as hell and he’s not going to take it anymore. So he puts his anger into his music and the tension goes away. Numerous shots and beers also help.
Play on, C5!
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