Nettie Quill is a Tuscaloosa-based band sweeping across the city and state in the same manner that many of today’s bands do: playing shows at venues in town and preparing to move their sound out of state as well.

The seven members of the group play a creative mixture of blues, funk and southern rock.  The band took their name from the historic Alabama steamboat The Nettie Quill, which was owned by the great-grandfather of one of the guitarists.

 “When the band gets together to play, there is nothing more soothing to my soul than just closing my eyes and feeling the vibes that our guys create,” said lead singer Max Fazeli. “We are ready for the band to share this feeling with our hometown, the great state of Alabama and the University of Alabama. We hope we will give them something to be proud of.”

Ben Lucy, one of the band’s guitarists, is on a full scholarship for guitar performance at the University. The keyboard player, Tim Davis, has produced a track with R&B singer Sammie of Interscope Records. The drummer, West Warner, is currently attending a program at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

“When I get to play with the band I feel like I am playing with a group of prodigies,” said Brad Folmar, a local drummer who sometimes sits in with the band.

The band will have a three-man line-up at the Copper Top Aug. 11 and is considering a performance at the Gray Lady in downtown Tuscaloosa.

Their first public show as a full band will take place at the Red Shed on Aug. 12, followed by Rounders on The Strip Aug. 13 and Mellow Mushroom Aug. 19.

With all the excitement Nettie Quill has created they felt they needed an intimate gig and will play at Little Willie’s on Sept. 3, the night before Alabama’s first home football game of the season.  They have also booked Kennedy’s Bar in September on the night of another football game.

“We have built a new stage here at Kennedy’s Bar, and Nettie Quill is the type of band we built it for, real sound,” said Alexis Turner, a manager at Kennedy’s Bar.

The band’s first three shows will be dedicated to U.S. military veterans, and the band will buy all veterans with a military ID a drink from 9-10 p.m.

 “We are excited to have the whole band play their first public show here,” said Red Shed general manager Kendra Marlar. “The band apparently seems to have a pretty big following so we imagine it’s going to be a fun night.”

The Red Shed has will have drink specials the night Nettie Quill plays, including $1 beers, $5 martinis and $3 mimosas. 

According to the band’s promoter, negotiations are underway for gigs in other cities in Alabama as well as other states.

“With so many of the band’s members attending the University in the fall, it is going to be hard for us to travel to Memphis, Nashville and Atlanta, but we will always make time to play New Orleans,” said Caleb Lovelady, the band’s back-up singer.

Jeremiah Jones, the general manager of Jupiter Bar and Grill, said there are numerous bands that play in Tuscaloosa.

“Tuscaloosa is a college town, so naturally you have young creative people wanting to play shows,” he said. “I love the fact that part of my job is to listen to these bands and try to book the very best ones.”

When asked about Nettie Quill’s potential, Jones said, “Ever heard the story of how REM got big in Athens? Tuscaloosa is ready for our REM, and I hope I can be part of discovering them.”

During live shows, the band often covers songs from The Allman Brothers Band to Michael Jackson, creating an enjoyable experience for all types of music fans.

 “The fans of Nettie Quill receive the same nostalgic feel of listening to B.B. King when Ben Lucy plays the clean sound he is capable of creating,” said Will Prickett, a Nettie Quill fan.

For more information about the band or to preview their music, visit their Facebook page or view them at myspace.com/nettiequill.