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Now, with fingers crossed, blistered and sore from practice, The Colonels' originals "Brighter Day" and "Nothing Left to Lose" may be the two songs that could sweep the Colgate regional title in Rock Hill, S.C. on Dec. 5, sending Topher Brown, 26; Charlie "Chuck Diesel" Townsend, 29; Donnie "The Duke" Hollis, 25; Marvin "Chatty" Curtis, 32; and Brett "Skitch" Hart, 21, with them on an all-expense paid trip to nationals in Nashville, Tenn. If The Colonels take the national title, which comes with being the "best new act in country music," according to a recent press release, they will also win $100,000.
"My nerves are OK right now," said lead man Brown. "I'm sure that by the time we go I will be a nervous wreck."
But in the meantime, "we are just working out any bugs in the performance," Brown said.
As far as competition goes, Townsend knows it is only going to get stiffer from this point on.
"It is only going to get harder in regional competition. It is going to be tough. (It's) a matter of nailing it on game day," he said.
Curtis said the judge's critiquing for a band is somewhat different from the grading of a solo act. There can't be any weak links because it could hurt the group's grade as a whole, he explained.
"We just want to put on the highest quality show with lots of energy," the keyboardist said.
Summing up their transition from just for fun to a serious pursuit, several members of The Colonels defined their music as "country on crack." "Country on crack," can be defined as a stage performance full of energy, well-played instruments and ambition.
Both Curtis and Townsend, a rhythm guitarist, are no toriginal members, but their exuberant talent cinched them a spot in The Colonels. Brown, Hollis and Hart are original members.
The band has developed a team effort in almost every process of making the band work. Curtis said everyone pulls their weight in the band by contributing creatively through ad-libbing their instrumental parts in the creating process, pursuing gigs and handling business operatives.
The band has matured to promote a democratic form of say-so among its members.
"What I like about the band is that we all work together to make it gel - the whole band is in the decision-making process," Curtis said.
Each member thrives on music somehow and working several jobs to make this love for music work in the real world.
The band has also made some highly progressive footsteps, having opened for some serious country headliners like Shooter Jennings, Crossin Dixon, Randy Houser, Jeff Bates, Paul Thorn and James Otto, most of whom are Mississippi natives.
"I love being onstage. I love the rush I get from stage fright," bassist Hollis said.
Brown loves being surrounded by a crew he loves and meshes well with.
"I love playing with these guys. And I just love music period," Brown said.
He derives his inspirations from his father, Ricky Brown who has been in music for 40 years. He is also enlightened by the blues, including the sounds of Stevie Ray Vaughn.
"(I) decided at a young age (13) I wanted to be a rock star," Brown said.
Brown, Curtis and Hart basically live and breathe music.
All three work at Brookhaven Music and Sound Co. off of Highway 51 South and are teachers, too. Brown teaches guitar and runs the recording studio. Curtis teaches piano and Hart delivers lessons on the drums. Curtis is glad to work neck and neck with "top of the line musicians" both at work and on stage.
Townsend is a personal trainer and operates his own small business specializing in documentary film productions. Hollis is a father and a husband and is in the pursuit of furthering his education as of now.
Work also bleeds into their spiritual lives as well.
All "still play for Jesus," Hart said, at churches all over the south central part of the state, including Hollis at Temple Baptist in Hattiesburg, Hart and Brown at Pinelake Baptist Church in Flowood, Townsend at Country Woods Baptist Church in Byram and Curtis at Easthaven Baptist Church in Brookhaven.
All five are aware of the issue of playing in both the church and secular scenes. They are mature in how they handle the issue of playing in a bar on Friday or Saturday and singing or playing for God on Sunday or Wednesday.
"I definitely think you have to separate the two. If you play music for a living you have to play music. It's the job ... you have to pay the light bill ... so any money-making gig is to make a living as long as it's done in a professional manner," Curtis said.
"Playing music in church is different to me," he continued. "Church music should be played in a professional manner as well because not only are you playing for the people ... you are playing for God ... which is more important than anything. As a band we realize the importance of staying grounded and knowing that church should not be taken lightly."
Hart sees it as an opportunity of lighting up a dark room with their music by exampling their faith and fortitude in their relationship with Christ.
"For me, because I don't drink or smoke or do the typical bar things, it isn't really much of an issue. I personally think that by being Christians that play in bars, we have a unique opportunity to live out our faith in ways that others might not get the chance to. Are we perfect at doing that? By no means, but we try to use our influence in a positive way," Hart said.
"Hopefully, we handle one like we handle the other. We don't really try to compartmentalize our lives. We all love Christ and we all love music. We can love Christ and music at church and at a bar," Hollis said.
Townsend is on the same page with the rest of the band when it comes to the situation and seeing it as work is work.
"Bottom line, I've made a commitment to the band," he said. "I believe God provided an opportunity to be a musician for a living. That means working. Taking gigs. You gotta take them as they come."
Most members are homegrown in area, except for new member Townsend who is from Byram. Hart and Hollis grew up around each other in the Loyd Star area of Lincoln County. Hart graduated from playing the French horn in the school band to learning to play drums on his own after dropping out of band his junior year at Loyd Star Attendance Center.
Curtis grew up playing music with his family and has been playing in gospel groups since he was 16.
He probably brings the most experience to the group. He comes from a musical family and met his wife Jessica, who also sings some for the band at performances, while playing piano in her father's gospel group Bob Scott and Sweet Spirit. The group had seven songs in the top 80 charts for gospel music. He has lived in Brookhaven area for the past seven years.
"Its kind of crazy how opportunity presents itself," Curtis said.
He has also orchestrated music for recent Brookhaven Little Theatre's "Wizard of Oz" production and has personally played piano for the Fordices. Brown said he brings experience to the group.
Maybe this is a combination of talent, passion, faith, perseverance, experience and hard work will continue to pay off for The Colonels.
In fact, Hart believes they have been "blessed" to come as far as they have.
