“Long story short, to put it nicely, the name of the band came from a long, long, hazy night of partying,” laughs Bryan Feudale, lead guitarist and vocalist, about the genesis of the band moniker Mystic Haze. Bryan joins his brothers, Michael on drums and David on bass and vocals, along with Jason Struble on lead and rhythm guitar, to form the group, which has been building a strong reputation throughout the region. “The band pretty much got together because, being brothers, we shared a lot of the same musical interests,” he continues. “And Jason, our brother from another mother, shared the same interests. So we all pretty much did the whole lifestyle of partying and jamming, and then we started to write our own music.”
The group is based out of Matawan, NJ, but originally hailed from Union Township, where they all grew up and learned to play. It was also there that they developed their shared kindred for several different styles of music, ranging from the heavy sounds of Megadeth, Slayer, Black Sabbath, Black Label Society, Alice In Chains and Nirvana, to the classic rock of Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. They also gravitated to a lot of blues artists. And, of course, the Beatles, as Bryan makes it clear he would not consider any list of influences complete with their inclusion.
“I think it’s rather hard to describe Mystic Haze,” relates Bryan. “We are trying to do so much with the band. I wouldn’t say we fit one genre. If I had to describe it, we all agree that we are a mix of classic rock, hard rock, blues, and metal, but we also love melody very much.”
The music is generally a collaboration of all the members, although occasionally one of them will come up with a great riff or jam solo piece, which becomes the basis for a song. Some of the crowd favorites are “Devils Smile,” “Home Again,” and “Bullet To The Brain.”
The group has been described as having the perfect bar band sound, with its mix of party music, alternative rock tinged vocals, and lyrics and a stage persona that ranges from angry and aggressive to get-up-and-get-the-party-started anthems. Their sound calls to mind the intensity of the Stone Temple Pilots or Alice In Chains, but with a lighter touch that doesn’t leave you drained after a heavy dose.
With local shows at venues such as The Lucky Seven in Keyport and the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, as well as trips to places as far as North Carolina, there will usually be some interesting turns of events. “Well, there is always something bound to happen when you are trying to make your name in the music industry,” Bryan says. “One night we were playing a show and I don’t want to name the venue or anyone involved, but we were set to play a show around midnight, or later. The sound people and owners let the other bands play really long sets, so we got cut to about two songs. But being the hot headed guy I am, I had to speak out, and opened up by saying we are Mystic Haze, and this is bullshit! Then in the middle of our song, ‘To Live Another Day,’ I told the crowd to scream out, ‘Fuck the venue we were at.’ We got cut off after we finished one song, so I decided to throw their equipment into where the audience was standing. I wound up getting pulled off the stage by my shirt for a little conference in the back!”
But even amidst of all the craziness, the music is definitely the focus for the band, as opposed to dreams of mansions and the perks of rock stardom, or an endless life of partying. “Mystic Haze’s goals are generally just to make good music,” states Bryan. “That people really enjoy the music, and not just for a fad or a phase. We would love to bring good music back, because the times we live in leave us with nothing original. It’s all about the look these days. What happened to the music, man?”
You can find out more about Mystic Haze, including their music and upcoming shows, at facebook.com/mystic.haze, reverbnation.com/mystichaze, or you can get in touch with the band at mystichaze1@hotmail.com.
