Everything else is on the side for Sandal Machine Foot

By Charlene Arsenault

Less is more. It's a concept that is often lost on musicians, particularly guitar players.

But there is perhaps no style more in need of this concept than funk. As the guitarist in Sandal Machine Foot, Sean McLaughlin, though he grew up on an initial diet of classic rock, learned how to lay back and be part of what they call "Experimental Funktastic Rock," which draws upon jam-rock, hardcore, funk and soul.

"My style is pretty much old-school funk rock guitar," says McLaughlin. "I grew up listening to that. Stuff like old Chili Peppers, Curtis Mayfield and John Scofield. Over the years, you get playing and just keep moving along. I saw Victor Wooten and it turned me on to this, as did Medeski, Martin and Wood, and it just started developing over the years. There was a time I wouldn't even want to play this funky"

McLaughlin is one of the newbies in the band, following behind Cory Coconuts, who plays the six-string bass. The two extra pieces (McLaughlin replaced a guitarist, and Coconuts became a second bassist) marked somewhat of a rebirth for the band. Around for four years prior, it has now expanded its repertoire and are working on a debut EP.

With two bassists, SMF obviously relies heavily on the bass for its sound. Songs like "Dis Is Strike Like" slinks like a stealth cat sneaking along a fence post, the lead vocals stepping in time with the lows, the guitar coming in to pull it out to metal/hardcore for spells. "Up Mountain" kicks off with Chili Peppers-like funk guitar, and continues along a popping slap bass.

Sandal Machine Foot, which also includes originals Vinny Vincent on vocals and percussion, Ian on drums and vocals and Matt Hain on four-string bass, is also following the soon-to-be-released EP with a full-length album. For all of these guys, the band is their first priority, which is a concept often lost — and hard to find. All of the band members contribute to the writing, actually getting together as a group to write collectively, and they have scheduled rehearsals three nights a week. "On our days off," says McLaughlin, "we do our promotional stuff. It's tough to find five people who are on the same page. Everyone in this band is a full-time musician, and everything else they do is on the side." o