Wichita has never been the hub for alternative or indie music in Kansas and the popular opinion is that it might never be. There are few venues and even fewer people in the community willing to support the scarce collection of bands that do exist. What Wichita does have, however, is a small accumulation of talent that fights tooth and nail for whatever success might come from it. Among these bands is The Fever Trend, a three-piece alternative group with a strong infusion of influences that gives them a distinct sound to go with their raw musical talents. If there is potential to be found in Wichita, there are three men that want to prove it.
Carlos Malache, lead singer and guitarist, performs with a style that invokes a strong nostalgia for groups like The Black Keys or the spastic musings of Jimi Hendrix. “Mountains” plays off this mixture with Malache’s olive oil voice paired with Davis McClendon’s smooth and subtle bass twangs. Much of the album is founded in this basic (but extremely effective) premise of lulling the audience in with sharp and calculated guitar riffs backed by Jayke Wedel’s punchy drum fills and McClendon’s fluid plucks of the bass , before bursting into an infectious chorus. “Quiet Place”, a song familiar to long-time Fever Trend fans from the Demo days, displays the rarely-used but widely adored Kaossilator as it pulls listeners into a sonic fever dream followed by another explosive guitar segment.
That is what The Fever Trend does best. Among their various talents in terms of composition and lyricism, their true strength lies in their ability to craft a series of memorable moments that come together to form a cohesive and engaging experience. Mountains does not rely on any one niche or gimmick, but rather it utilizes each strength The Fever Trend has – showmanship, knack for crafting exceptional choruses, and style continuity. For braving the Wichita music scene in its complacent glory and producing a record with an electric tenacity, The Fever Trend deserves far more credit than Kansas might be willing to give them.
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