On Friday, February 6, 2009, Operation Experimentation, a.k.a. Op Ex, deftly performed for a small but enthusiastic audience in Acworth, Georgia. According to several observers at the show, this modest foursome of artisans had proved to them that local live bands are highly underrated.
Till the early hours of the morning Op Ex´s Jeremy Stegall (guitar), Jason Yates (drums), Justin Roach (bass), and Chris Iconis (keyboard) merged their individual talents and styles in order to bring a unique flavor to every piece they performed.
Operation Experimentation is a group that confidently walks the line between different musical styles. In one set they can smoothly glide between Alternative, Blues, Jazz, Southern Rock, and original songs. However, their original songs are the main attraction for many of their fans. Some of Op Ex´s original songs are posted on the band´s MySpace page: www.myspace.com/operationexperimentation2
The Fans
Brian Smith of Hiram, Georgia, was delighted with the show as he sat directly in front of the band wearing his black Operation Experimentation t-shirt and enjoying a large pitcher of beer. It was his 5th time watching the band perform and he proudly told Suite101.com that he had come specifically to see Op Ex; otherwise he wouldn´t have bothered visiting the bar that night.
Another fan, Eddie Keffel, expressed his appreciation for the way that the band played with “absolute heart” as they indulged in “simple intricacy”. He first heard them play at Ecofest 2008, where he worked as a Soundboard Technician, and has been a die-hard fan ever since.
The Guys
The motley crew that is Operation Experimentation came together in 2007 after the impromptu meeting of Jeremy Stegall, Jason Yates, and Justin Roach. They began as many bands do, messing around in a basement or at a friend´s bar until they stepped up to the challenge of seriously performing. All three had strong backgrounds in music, and a burning desire to be able to quit their respective day jobs.
However, as they continued to circulate through the local music scene they felt slightly unfulfilled and limited in their range. It was then that they asked Chris Iconis to join them with his keyboard and add another dimension to this highly talented musical group.
When asked to explain what the music means to them, Jeremy Stegall spoke for the band and stated that: “There are those who have no known musical talent. I say “known” simply because they may not have ever explored their rhythm. There are those who can play an instrument or sing a song, and they may even be good at it, but it's not something that they obsess about. Then there are those who's nearly every thought is interlaced, infected with music in some way at any given point in the day." The guys of Op Ex fall firmly within the last category.
After a pregnant pause Jeremy went on to muse that: "We are the ones who have been both revered and looked down upon. We are the ones who awaken in the middle of the night to write a song or play a riff or pen a verse so that it is not lost to our dreams. Rhythms and beats and vibes possess our lives daily and we welcome them, embrace them! ” That is what Operation Experimentation is all about.
Phillip Barea - Phillip is a freelance writer and his work is mainly focused on issues in international law and international affairs. His academic ...
