Rock guitarist, guitar player and session musician, Richard Barber - available for hire for your working band in Oahu, Hawaii

The cool rock of four men, tickled by musical itch

By Mariecar Jara-Puyod

Four men in their 30s and two plants with the names of Borris and Ivy equal to a band of professionals by day who have added colour to the expanding music world of the U.A.E.

Composed of lead guitarist Richard Barber, vocalist Lannon Durrant, drummer Sam Nasernia and bass guitarist Quay Evano, they are collectively known as Borrison Ivy (the sound of Borris and Ivy when repeatedly and quickly enunciated) who crossed paths between three and four months ago when the music itch tickled each of them and from music websites, met and auditioned.

It was all because of Barber, owner of the two plants he personally named as Borris and Ivy, and who posted on a few websites the search for men who simply are passionately in love with rock music.

And rock music that is of the cool, catchy, danceable, melodic and thumping kind.

Not of the headache-causing one that may drive some of the audience out of the room.

Each simply knocked it off together and in Barber's own words, "fitted straight right in."

Evano who has been playing the bass guitar since his high school days and on to the university was associated with two bands, and who was searching for a new bass guitar in the internet when he stumbled upon Barber's advertisement, said: "I've always loved to play that I could not quit playing despite my career and family. It's in you. It's like driving a car that you need in going to work."

Five months hence and with at least two gigs in Sharjah and Dubai, the latest one of which was the recently-held "Fete dela [sic] Musique" at the Madinat Souk Jumeirah, where an Emirati woman was observed by Barber to be tapping her hands with their music, in contrast with an expatriate guy who stood up and walked out, the four from Australia (teacher Barber), New Zealand (manager Durant [Durrant]), Iran (realtor Nasernia) and the Philippines (public relations coordinator Evano), also have produced their first six-track album out of their weekly (Tuesday night sessions) at the In The Mix in Jemeirah of Nash from Croatia.

"It's not ego," said Barber who, even as the recognized leader, composer and arranger, solicit the opinion of the three.

"Musically we have different tastes. Rock has a very wide range. We have raw material, raw ideas...Let's not underestimate the contribution of each member," quickly replied Nasernia when the thought of bickerings and disagreements between and among them were brought up, noting their varied social, cultural, educational and religious orientations.

Lannon, who like Evano, was a band member and was searching for one to be associated with the moment he arrived in Dubai a few months back said: "Where it (band) goes? We do not know. If it takes off, (great!)."

"At least we tried," he added.

Barber who quoted Socrates by saying that he is from the planet when asked about their ability to gel and solidly work together and that it is not a big deal where one hails from or whatever the background a person has, said: "We want to have fun. It's enjoyable. If we become commercially successful…it's a labour of love."

(Vol. 13, No. 70 Saturday, June 28, 2008 (Jamadi Al Thani 24, 1429)