Band builds fan base in Utah and the West

PROVO — In just six months, singer-composer Chris Merritt and his brand of piano-driven melodic rock has created a fan base.

Appearing last week at the Velour, the band — made up of Merritt, his longtime friend, drummer Tim Fellow, and bass player Dustin Hoffeins — debuted Doug Collins, an Orem native who now plays in Nashville. The group filled the tiny Velour nightclub with a huge sound, much to the delight of the roomful of 20-somethings.

A teenage garage rock band from Alpine, Nothing But Flying Yaks, opened for the group.

Merritt and Fellow started out as a preteen garage band in their native Virginia. Fellow has since graduated from Brigham Young University as a music major. Hoffeins attends Utah Valley State College .

The band tours Utah, Idaho, Arizona and California.

"He's so aware musically," said Al Thomas, 60, a professional drummer and Hoffeins' stepfather.

Thomas sat in for Fellow during a brief absence at another gig, learning Merritt's original songs in two weeks from a CD and one live practice session.

"(Merritt) has a broad range of appeal musically," Thomas said.

"They're innovative and creative," said fan and BYU student Elizabeth Clayton. "It's a mix of a lot of genres."

Clayton has been following the band since its Utah inception.

Merritt is scheduled to appear at the Velour again Nov. 9 and Dec. 13. In June he begins his Japan tour.

Merritt moved into Utah via the Los Angeles music scene, where he formed a group called Paper Face. As for his Utah fan base, he had only one word: "Amazing."

---

E-mail: rodger@desnews.com