“Our sound is an ’80s and ’90s-like approach to music. It has a feel like the Dandy Warhols … Veruca Salt, the Pretenders and Blondie but has the versatility to take most musical genres,” said
Amy Winter, the lead singer of the rock band The Fey, said. “Some of our originals range from Electric Cowboy and Chaparral that has an old country, Cowboy Junkies feel to Creepy Woman that is full-on post-punk. A couple other originals, ‘Blue Diamonds’ and ‘Waiting on a Heart Ache,’ has more of an Amy Winehouse feel.” Formed in 2017, The Fey describe their style as “alternative glam rock with deep velvety vibes.” The band’s name is a nod to Celtic mythology surrounding the Fair Folk.
The lineup also includes Karl Jones on lead guitar, David Lynn Harrison on drums and Lindsey “Lynzi” Kat on bass. “But the name is also descriptive of those who are a bit different,” Winter said. “There’s a mystical quality to ’70s, ’80s, and some ’90s rock music.
It’s heavy yet melodic, with rich tones and effects. So many bands from that era had an epic sound. For example, Led Zeppelin or Mazzy Star have an ethereal quality that I find very inspiring. Our music ranges from rock to rockabilly to jazz-influenced sounds, and we reinterpret covers in our own style. You might hear us cover The Doors, Black Sabbath or even INXS.”
“A lot of Winter’s song writing is incredibly heartfelt,” Harrison said. “Whether it’s a harder rock song, a ballad, or something upbeat that makes you want to dance, our sound is never confined to one style. Whatever she brings to the table always captures my interest.”
Harrison, who has been a member of the band for the last five years, describes The Fey as a “Generation X, pop-centric alternative rock band with a groove-heavy, danceable sound.”
He said he finds the group exciting because it blends different styles and ventures into unexpected covers, such as N.W.A.’s “Boyz-n-the-Hood.”
“For a Rolling Stones or even a David Bowie tune, it’s centered in a lot of grooves,” Harrison said.“On top of that, you get Winter with her goddess-like ethereal vibe with her guitar playing and singing, and then at the end you get Karl, decorating it with his licks. We rebuild the song to fit us like a fine tailor-made suit.”
“I encourage everyone to have fun with how they present themselves,” Winter said. “I love seeing people bring their own creative flair and style. There’s a fashion aspect to our shows. Ever since I was a child, I’ve enjoyed experimenting with clothing and using fashion as a form of self-expression … And honestly, I dig guys in black eyeliner.”
For his part, Jones sports a “Phantom of the Opera” mask on stage that he described as a nod to Iron Maiden as well, and is also working on his own Irish rock solo project reflecting his Dublin roots.
“I was affiliated with Temple Lane Studios and had a rehearsal room in Temple Bar, often considered the Greenwich Village of Dublin,” Jones said. “It’s where a lot of artists and musicians over the years have broken out of that area. It’s got a very vibrant music scene. So I came out of that 1980s Temple Bar music scene. And I was just very lucky. There was a lot of talent. Cranberries, Sinead O’Connor and U2 were all rehearsing and recording and playing in pubs in that part of the city. At the time, I was very young, but I’d already distinguished myself enough to be like an opening act for some of those acts. And so I cut my teeth playing guitar in Dublin.”
“[Lynzi ’s ] musical styling is like that of John Paul Jones,” Winter said. “He can be heavy and he can be melodic. His vibe is a mix of rock, post-punk with a playful mix of funk and R&B when the set list calls for it. We started playing music together about 23 years ago.”
Winter also attributed the band’s success to sound engineer Von James, a self-proclaimed David Lynch enthusiast.
“Von is our fifth member, as he put in as much work that we do with bringing in gear, setting up and giving full attention to how we sound throughout the whole experience,” Winter said. “He also brings a musical influence to our sound in how he likes to highlight the ’80 and ’90s hard rock, metal vibe. He’s a big Alice Cooper fan and loves theatrics.”
The Fey are scheduled to perform across the Verde Valley this spring, with performances at Smelter Town Brewery in Clarkdale on Friday, May 2, from 5 to 8 p.m.; the 10-12 Lounge in Clarkdale on Sunday, May 4, from 2 to 6 p.m.; and the Spirit Room in Jerome on Saturday, May 17, at 2 p.m. For more information, visit thefeymusic.com.
