SOL would rather be alive than free

By Rick Abasta

GALLUP-The Navajo Nation’s favorite rockabilly band is hard at work.

SOL is in the studio, working on their first full-length album.

With about 70 percent of the album completed, lead guitarist/vocalist, The Fly, said SOL will be announcing the release date once everything is mastered.

He is joined on stage with Tuco on upright bass, The Lazer on drums and Moose on washboard. The band is actually the Ashley brood: Sheldon, Sean, Brandon and Derek.

Besides the unity of family, staying alive musically over the last few years has been a matter of treading water, The Fly said.

“We stay afloat however we can,” he said. “The days are rarely seen and the nights seem to bring new friends.”

One of those new friends is Fritz, who is producing the Allentown, Ariz.-based band’s independent album. The band has 20 original songs in their catalog.

The subject matter for the songs runs the gamut from drunken fights to long distance relationships. Ultimately, though, the songs are about love.

The Fly described the effects of his love songs.

He said, “Crying tough guys. Bar tramps. Survival. The songs are basically biographical, like a Charles Bukowski story.”

The running theme here is the triumph of the underdog.

We record out of a garage, the SOL compound, The Fly said. The untitled album is comprised of 13 tracks.

A few years ago, SOL was riding a wave of success. The music scene for the local area seemed to evaporate after that.

“Bands come and go. It’s the way the tide goes,” The Fly reminisced. “Ironically, we are one of the lucky ones who have loyal fans.

“There’s always a need for music. It’s a disease,” he added.

For now, The Fly said the shattered glass youth rebellion is still going strong.

“It’s only the road to personal truth,” he said.

Let them go and let them grow. Let them be and let them bleed, The Fly advised.

“Music provides a life. It’s valuable to the kids. It’s intangible and nobody can take it from us,” he said.

Riding the buzz from the freedom of music has SOL content with the world, good or bad.

“Hope is an emotion that isolates you and fear is the vitamin you take,” The Fly said. “It’s a terrible thing to live in fear and we don’t.”

He said Navajo youth just need to take advantage of their one chance at life, whether they succeed or fail.

“There’s no such thing as failure, and if there is, it isn’t so bad,” The Fly said.

SOL will be performing on July 2 at Day Customs, opening for The Faraway Boyz and The Rocketz from Hollywood.

Information: www.myspace.com/SxOxLx