IF YOU GO: Fort Lean will be performing 10 p.m. Sunday at Cosmic Charlie’s, 338 Woodland Ave. in Lexington. Cost is $5 for ages 21 and up. More Information: (859) 309-9499
People may call Fort Lean an indie or garage rock band, but Will Runge thinks there’s a bit more to the group than those categorizations.
“I think that there is a blues influence,” said Runge, keyboardist for the band. Other members include: Sam Ubl, drums; Jake Aron, bass; Zach Fried, Telecaster; and Keenan Mitchell, lead vocals.
“Me and the lead singer listen to a lot of old blues. There’s a lot of past influence. There’s a technical precision to us that a lot of garage bands don’t have. We have a guitar and a synthesizer player, which add weird textures.”
Fort Lean’s latest single was released Feb. 28 on Neon Gold Records/Black Bell Records. Runge said this collaborative work was more of an experience for the group members. It includes songs they wrote together, and those songs are a level up from previous works.
“It’s pretty much completely collaborative,” Runge noted. “The songs work themselves out through practice, and all of a sudden completely exist.”
Fort Lean has been together about a year, Runge said, and is working on getting exposure for the band — a challenge for any young band.
“And it’s also making sure that you can write music you are happy with and sort of having people latch onto it and get it out there. ... It’s (tough) especially in Brooklyn (where the band is based) especially since every a****** on the subway is in two bands,” Runge noted.
The band’s name was a suggestion from a friend.
“It’s a place where you can go,” Runge explained. “I think it was, basically, we like for people to listen to the music and feel like they’re part of something. Fort Lean is a cross between a weird summer camp and some sort of vacation destination spot.”
Saturday’s gig at Cosmic Charlie’s should be exciting for concert-goers.
“They can expect us to ... charm them to death. They can expect to be dazzled by the lead singer’s crazy blonde locks,” Runge said. “And I would say we have a fantastic drum and bass combo. There’s great rhythm section action and some beautiful crooning from Keenan.”
