For more than a decade, The Fervor has made some of the best indie rock in the city, a sound dense with layers and ideas. At the core of the group are couple Ben and Natalie Felker. The pair started out in 2003 or so, as an outlet for Natalies songs. They took to the studio, recruiting along the way, before settling on their current lineup featuring longtime drummer Mat Heron, Brandon Duggins on bass and Mary Liz Bender on guitar and back-up vocals. Theyve released a string of records culminating with their most recent EP, Nightfall in the Kali Yuga.
The Fervors catalog builds on tension and indie-rock tropes, but never displeases the ear. This is imminently listenable music, by and large a reflection of their craft. If you look at our stuff, it comes from soft and quiet to heavier and louder, Ben said. We always kind of sound like its the same band playing it. It always sounds like The Fervor to me. Natalies voice is so unique that were lucky that it adds a lot of definition to our sound. Were lucky that weve got that voice of hers.
The dynamic between Ben and Natalie is compelling, romantic in that way that committed relationships work. Parents, the two split their time accordingly, giving space to allow the other opportunities to demo songs and develop ideas. As such, the band has to contend with scheduling issues, but time and experience have trained them on how to work as efficiently as possible.
The Felkers are united in their passion for their craft. Backed by the stalwart Herron, the three have carried the band through a succession of changes. Ben attributes at least some of that to the ease of their operation: Natalie and I are married. Were going to be together and continue writing songs. We dont always work on each others material, but very frequently we do. It kind of seems weird to not bill something as The Fervor if Natalie and I both work on it. We probably would have quit if we could, but you kind of get to that point where youre kind of a lifer.
He continued, adding of writing, There is definitely a level of understanding that you have with your partner that I see that other musicians dont. If youre a musician who hasnt made it per se, the amount of grief that we have to go through to do it doesnt really make sense to a lot of people. If youre looking from the outside, youre starting to push 40 and dealing with paying the bills, so we dont have to question that stuff.
Of course, the march of progress has not come without consequence. The band has endured a number of line-up changes, although Ben believes they are all better off for it.
Weve had some cases where people were on a life course where they werent going to be in town for long, he said. You try not to have any bad feelings for anything like that. We dont want anyone in the band that doesnt want to be in the band. Weve had periods of transition where we start to second-guess it, but the fact that the three of us [have stayed] in place has helped, I suppose.
With maturity comes a realization of what it is to succeed.
For Ben, that is, Just being able to continue to put out records and have some genuine audience for them regardless of the size of that audience. I would love to not have a day job and just play music. I guess thats what we would all love in terms of the grand prize. Just to do it. Just to actualize your own self. To keep a band together that likes to play the songs. To be able to pay rent on your rehearsal space.
The Fervor, Frederick the Younger, Wussy
Saturday, June 25
Headliners Music Hall
1386 Lexington Road
$10-$12; 9 p.m.