If You Will Delivers

Very few garage bands make it past the driveway. They are forever destined to play on a slab of concrete and perform for an audience of lawn mowers and bicycles. In 2006, three high school musicians from Mahtomedi, Minnesota decided that they were tired of playing the garage gig and set out to discover what happens when music meets the masses. Just three years later, the band has already achieved major milestones in the music industry and is perfecting the art of putting on a great show.

If You Will has already seen success in the Midwest. They have played at multiple venues which include: Club Three Degrees, The Enigma, Crosspoint Church, Living Word Christian Center, The Rock, The Cabooze, and The Varsity Theater. I was lucky enough to catch their most recent performance at Club Three Degrees in Minneapolis last Saturday night. There was a half hour wait to get into the club, as the bouncers desperately tried to fit as many people as they could into the venue. If You Will took the stage around 7:30. The club was packed, which undoubtedly put extra pressure on the band. Nevertheless, If You Will fed off of the audience’s energy and used it to fuel their own musical oomph. This ability comes natural to the trio, as each band member has an extensive background in musical performance.

Because I went to school with all three members of If You Will, I have seen their musical progression over the years. The band is comprised of three members: Seth Lienard, Stefan Swanson, and Aaron Rosell. If You Will formed in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. Their performance at our high school’s Battle of the Bands won the crowd over and expanded their fan base almost instantly. They ended up taking first place. Aaron Rosell, the drummer and piano player, is the youngest member of the band and was also in my graduating class. I remember the middle school talent show where Aaron amazed the audience with his high tempo drum solo (this was no ordinary solo; it lasted around five minutes). Aaron’s other musical talent is playing the piano, which he has done at multiple school events. Seth Lienard is the bass player and one of the band’s vocalists. His unique bass riffs are a signature feature of If You Will and are the most recognizable notes in every song. Stefan Swanson, the band’s lead guitar player and other vocalist, is the oldest member of the band. He has been playing the guitar since he was in sixth grade, which calculates into about seven or eight years ago. He also has experience playing the bass guitar, piano, and drums; however, none of these instruments can contest his skill on the electric guitar. Stefan took time after If You Will’s performance at Club Three Degrees for a quick interview.

I only had a few questions for Stefan, and he was more than happy to answer them. Because If You Will has played at so many venues and with many other local bands, I wondered if Stefan had a favorite band he would like to open for. He quickly answered, “Red Hot Chili Peppers for sure, but I would never feel good enough!” As it turns out, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have had a major influence on If You Will. More specifically, John Frusciante, who plays guitar for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has inspired Stefan’s guitar playing. Some of If You Will’s other influences are Incubus, Muse, and Coldplay. I asked Stefan what the best part of being in a band is, to which he replied, “The companionship of participating in something higher than myself with my brothers.” This response shows how close the band has grown over the years. The tight-knit relationship that If You Will has can also be detected in their music.

If You Will has an alternative style, but occasionally one of its songs such as “Run Away” will bust out in a fury of hard rock riffs. Tasty distorted guitar licks, compliments of Stefan, are a pleasant addition to all the songs; however, it is Seth’s memorable bass riffs that provide backbone to the music and keep the audience coming back for more. When Seth’s bass and Stefan’s guitar combine, it makes for an enjoyable performance. As the band’s front men, both Seth and Stefan are capable of winning over a crowd, and watching them compete with each other for attention is amusing. They also know when to work together. The song “Hate Your Hate” is an excellent example of their teamwork. After a heavy guitar intro by Stefan, Seth comes in for a catchy bass solo that sets up the rest of the song. The vocals begin to line up with the bass line in an eerie sort of way. Both the vocals and the bass have to be perfectly in sync at this time in the song; otherwise, the effect will not be achieved. Later on in the song, Stefan and Seth come back together for a shared solo. It is exactly what the audience needs. The two bring massive amounts of energy to the stage. Although Seth and Stefan are both extremely talented, they would be lost without their drummer.

As the youngest member of the group, Aaron probably has the most energy. He also has the most exhausting job in the band. Keeping up with Seth and Stefan is not an easy task. Luckily, Aaron is a wiz kid on the drums. As a testament to his talent, the song “Ragnarok” was created. Throughout the entire performance of this song, Aaron never lets up. He becomes a whirlwind of thumping and thrashing. The look of Aaron’s drum show is something similar to the Energizer Bunny on steroids; it keeps going and going, and then it goes some more. Yet Aaron looks at ease when he is playing. It is as if he could handle way more than the band is giving him, but alternative bands do not usually have overly explosive drummers. Watching If You Will play at Club Three Degrees made me realize how far Aaron has come since his middle school talent show routine.

After only three years, If You Will has secured its place in the music scene. “Flight Plan,” the band’s first album, was released in 2007 and has eleven tracks. For being a first album, “Flight Plan” is daring. The style is not conventional but still has enough of a rock attitude to become widely popular. Then, in the beginning of 2008, If You Will released their first single. “Ragnarok” is a hard rock track with all the amenities. It is so intricate that at times it is hard to believe there are only three band members. The band’s next piece, “Above the Earth,” will likely be out in the summer of 2009. All of If You Will’s songs can be purchased on iTunes.

It is hard to say what will happen to these three friends from Mahtomedi. They have mastered small venues across the Twin Cities but are still a long way off from obtaining nationwide popularity. If You Will is definitely on the right path. Maybe all the band needs is a few more albums or perhaps a music video to launch them into the media spotlight. They are so talented that the possibilities are limitless. If You Will is certainly worth keeping an eye on in the upcoming years.