The Features Returns to Murfreesboro

The Features returned to its Murfreesboro music scene roots at 527 Main St. on Jan. 14. The band played for a new generation of fans, in addition to those who have followed the group since its formation, but this time around it played as an established band with a well-honed sound.

The Features has been making music together for over a decade, beginning in Sparta during members’ middle-school years. With the influence of the few classic rock radio stations that filtered into Sparta from Nashville, Matt Pelham, lead singer and guitarist, Roger Dabbs, bassist, and two earlier members formed a band with a wide variety of initial influences that together fed the unique sound that is still evolving today.

While its early influences included classic rock legends such as Led Zeppelin and Van Halen, its move to the college music scene broadened the band’s horizons. Early ’90s Murfreesboro, like the rest of the country, was feeling the impact of the innovative Seattle music scene. Pelham said that this movement had additional impact on the band’s sound. Inspirations from this period included bands such as Pavement, Camper Van Beethoven and The Pixies. While incorporating these influences into its repertoire, members still listened to classic rock bands and played covers of Tom Petty and others at their shows.

Band members have learned a lot of lessons in their time in the music business. Pelham said Murfreesboro has changed a lot since their beginnings here, but so has the band. The members began their odyssey into the business eager to learn. Like many bands, they also experienced the downside. They went through a time where they became jaded by the process, but now, “we are just glad to be doing what we are doing,” Pelham said.

Members of The Features play music they would like to listen to themselves. The band’s sound was not so much chosen but just where it ended up. Band members’ influences and how they learned and developed their singular styles in playing their instruments brought about the sound heard in The Features music today.

Pelham said his favorite part of the process is writing and developing songs. Sometimes their songs are about personal things; some of their early songs are about his children. But, he also says they are inspired by a wide variety of personal interests and various events that occur in their lives. The song “GMF” from their latest album, Some Kind of Salvation, is about genetically modified food. Some of Pelham’s favorites have been the songs that flow out without effort and essentially write themselves. He said these are the ones that are less of a struggle.

Touring is next in line to writing when it comes to Pelham’s favorite part of his job. Playing live is one of the strong points of touring, but he also misses his family. He said over the course of any year, touring evens out to having a normal 9-to-5 job. They are on the road for a few months and then spend a few consecutive months at home with their families. He said venues like 527 are more his style because they are smaller and more comfortable.

The band is leaving on tour again soon and will play various venues through the spring. Band members are also in the process of writing and arranging songs for their next album, which they hope to have released by early next year.

Pelham said he cannot see himself doing anything else, at least not being as happy as he is right now. He said the topic of doing other things for a living isn’t talked about.

“It isn’t really a conversation. We don’t really think about it a lot. We’ve done it so long. It’s what we do. It’s who we are. If someone said they didn’t want to do it anymore, it would obviously be for a really good reason,” Pelham said.

For now, members of The Features appear to be really happy doing what they are doing, while at the same time realizing that they continue to evolve their style. Pelham said there is progress, and as long as they are happy, they do not want to be anywhere else.