Maple Ridge's Brent Doiron, Danny Schultz, Dave Heron, and Ontario native Dave C. Montgomery make up SOLIDRED, a four-piece band that mixes rock, ska/reggae, alternative, blues, and at times, a bit of everything else.

Cousins Schultz and Doiron had been singing together and individually for years when they hooked up with Montgomery, who was looking for someone to jam with.

They played some original songs for friends in backyards and coffee shops - starting off as an acoustic guitar and hand drum act.

Soon after, when Heron - who had taken a long musical hiatus - joined on bass, the band fell into place.

For 10 years Heron didn't pick up a guitar after his music equipment was stolen from his house. Then he saw an acoustic bass in the window of the local pawn shop and decided to buy it.

"It was great when I first started again. I was really rusty, but somehow I stumbled across Brent's YouTube [videos]," Heron said. "I told him they are lacking a bass player and that I just happened to have an acoustic bass."

With the addition of an acoustic bass guitar and a drum kit their sound began to develop and more original music was created.

"I try to bring a little metal to the bass," said Heron, adding that Montgomery has a "hip-hop jazz flair to his drumming."

Schultz and Doiron have written 17 original songs.

"They are from the heart - real life events with actual meaning," explained Heron.

With Schultz and Doiron's distinctive voices and guitar riffs, combined with the two Daves' hip-hop and metal infused rhythm section, a sound began to take a shape that they can call their own.

"It's hard to describe because it's a lot of different styles in the soup," Heron said.

SOLIDRED plays at By Bailey's Pub on Saturday, March 9, from 9 p.m. to midnight. The pub is at 11232 Dartford St. in Maple Ridge.

Follow SOLIDRED at www.facebook. com/SOLIDREDband.

smclaren@mrtimes.com