CREDIT: A-FOS ROCKED THE OUT BACK SHACK WHEN THEY PLAYED IN JANUARY. THEY’RE RETURNING TO THE OBS STAGE ON OCTOBER 4 FOR A NEW MUSIC NIGHT PERFORMANCE.
FSU Street Team

A talented group of musicians will be showcasing their unique blend of sound in early October, and they're students located right within the halls of Fanshawe College.

A-Fos, a hip-hop quintet with flavours of jazz, funk, and rock will be performing on October 4 in The Out Back Shack for New Music Night.

The group, consisting of members Colin Gray on guitar, Dave Antonini on keyboard, Alex Barber on bass, Paul Arsenault on drums, and led by emcee Alex Foster, hope to continue with the momentum gained over a busy summer of composing music, shooting a music video, and playing at different venues around Southwestern Ontario.

Performing live is something that truly inspires A-Fos as they try to evoke a double-edged sword of emotion to anyone who listens to their music. The band's driven to not only to get people out of their seats and dance their way to soreness, but to leave “with a sense of introspection [where people] sit and think about themselves and life,” Arsenault said.

“Overall, I hope they leave with a good time feeling, but also on that note, I really hope they were listening and kind of pick up on some of the lyrics because Alex has some pretty real stuff; like very real, relatable, specific instances,” Gray said, before admitting that Foster's song “Your Spirit,” written about his grandmother, still gives him goosebumps every time they play it.

“It's a delicate balance of making people dance, and making people look in the mirror,” Foster said.

The five got together last November, but even as a relatively new group to the local music scene, they realize how important it is to keep as busy as possible to grow their fan base. “If you don't do it, someone else will be ready to do it,” Gray said. “Nothing's going to happen for you, so it's important to do what you can.”

“No one's going to notice you unless you do it yourself,” Barber added.

After spending the summer playing at different venues including Hamilton, and the London Music Club and APK here in town, Foster sees the group growing into a student favourite. “I think we're definitely a college circuit band, like 100 per cent indie,” he said. “I think we could be pretty good, if we get really tight and we come out with more projects, we can definitely be a big band in Ontario in the college circuit.”

The group will be opening for The Nicest, who they've done a couple of shows with before, which Gray said will make for nothing short of a fun night. “This show with The Nicest is another thing to be totally stoked for. We're like the total feel-good duet, and with forces combined, it's just going to be a feel-good night.”

New Music Night featuring A-Fos and The Nicest starts at 9:30 p.m. on October 4 at The Out Back Shack. The show is all ages for Fanshawe students, 19-plus for guests.

To listen to A-Fos' “No Rules (In the Sky),” visit a-fos.bandcamp.com, and for updates on the band, check out their Facebook group, and Twitter handle at @AfosMusic.