Fatwood takes the stage at Crystal Theatre

CRYSTAL FALLS – The five-piece Iron River-based band Fatwood will take the stage at Crystal Theatre on April 21 at 7 p.m. as part of the theater’s Third Thursday Local Concert Series. 
Established in 2018, Fatwood creates original music influenced by rock, pop, blues, jazz and funk.  Tones of saxophone, piano, guitar, driving bass and drums deliver Fatwood’s unique sound. Its music can be found on Spotify and Reverbnation.
Band members have come to the U.P.  from different parts of the U.S. including Chicago, California, Arizona and West Virginia.
Matt Bessemer, a self-taught musician, has been playing and singing since he was young.  After fronting the post-punk group Ethyline/Magnafux for more than 20 years, he found his way to Gaastra.
Brendan Dance, saxophone player, relocated from Tucson, Arizona to Iron River in 2018. Born in Milwaukee, his early years were spent studying jazz. He lived for a decade in San Francisco before moving to Tucson. Now he calls the U.P. home and Fatwood is his main musical venture.
Todd Moser, on bass, was born in the hills of Morgantown, West Virginia and relocated to the Iron Mountain area in 2006. He has played in many bands throughout his career, most notably the band called Moon, now known as Phantom Six.
Lenny Johnson, Fatwood’s drummer, is a multi-instrumentalist who grew up in the small town of Johnsburg, Illinois.  In addition to playing with several other bands, he was owner and operator of Ultimate Karaoke & DJ Services. A recording drummer for multiple artists, Johnson was the signature drummer for Creative Percussion and Scorpion Percussion. He moved to the U.P. in 2015.
Kevin Lasilla, the latest addition to Fatwood, hails from Chicago. Playing with several bands over the years, he recorded regularly at Chess Records in the 1970s and Pegasus records in the 1980s.  Now living in Iron River, he currently performs with the bands Crossroads and Easy Money as well as Fatwood. Tickets for April’s Third Thursday are available only at the box office. Admission is $10 for adults; students are admitted free.