There is a very hot LIVE band called FUSE that is firing up the Chrome Nightclub inside the Santa Fe Station Hotel Casino. When I went in to check FUSE out, I expected to see another ‘cover band’ up there playing the same old music that every other cover band in the world plays. I was not only mistaken but extremely overjoyed to listen to a range of music that I have never heard a band perform before….and perform WELL!! The musicianship of this band is so outstanding that I had to find out more about them.

I caught up with the lead female singer, CANDACE MARTIN, and she filled me in on these amazing musicians. The band consists of six members. Along with Candace there is MICHAEL JOHNSON, the male lead singer and lead guitarist, DAVID RAMIREZ on drums, RIGO FLORRES on bass, JAMIE TOWNSEND on keys and ED JUDD on lead vocals, sax & guitar.

Asking Candace what makes this group different, she replied; "It’s not only the material that we are doing, but the fact that we have so much fun performing the music together" She told me that the core band has been together for over two years, as a pioneer symphonic rock band, playing under a different name at venues such as The Mandalay Bay and The Bellagio. She went on to say; "About a year ago we got a call from Station Casinos asking us what we could put together for them that was new and fresh.  So we focused on what we did best and what we loved doing and in the process brought Ed Judd on board with his killer sax chops and vocals.  The band has stayed  true to their rock n'roll roots and added  a contemporary dance vibe".

Asking about the type of music they played, she said; "We stay true to what we love like the classic Janis Joplin, Zepplin, Bob Seger and Dave Matthews but we also cover more contemporary artists like KT Tunstall, Nickelback, Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravtiz, Joss Stone and Amy Winehouse, I mean the list is endless.  One of the great things about FUSE is that everyone has a vocal strength and style that makes our song list so eclectic and versatile and never dull or just the same ole stuff you hear in the lounges beat to death".

The members of the band have played along side some of the biggest names in the business like The Steve Miller Band, Paul Schafer, Chuck Berry, Chaka Kahn, Wayne Newton, David Cassidy, Sheena Easton and Mary Wilson to name just a few.