Amber Fults and the Ambivalent Lovers will play an entire evening of music from the band Queen on Friday, Jan. 17, at Rhythm and Brews at 9 p.m.
Review for the Ambivalent Lovers:
The Ambivalent Lovers, (Fults; Hayley Graham - Vocalist; Travis Kilgore - Bassist; Butch Ross – Guitarist, and Hunter White - Drummer) are a five-piece pop-rock band from Chattanooga. Built around the core of Amber’s smart, catchy songs and her soaring, soulful voice, the Ambivalent Lovers fashion a sound of hard hitting rock n' roll with splashes of country, pop and classic rock thrown in.
So why take on the music of such a storied and iconic band? Says guitarist Ross, “I always think of the Edmund Hillary quote about Everest ‘Because it’s there.’ Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Queen is the most diverse and technically brilliant band in the history of Rock and Roll, hands down. Taking this project on forces everyone in the band to become better musicians, and we get to play some really great music to boot.”
And lead vocalist and band namesake Fults adds, “And they’re my favorite band ever.”
Much like the ambitious, theatrical band they salute, the show will be a production of epic proportions. “We Will Rock You” will feature the band, augmented by vocalist and pianist David Ingle, a string sextet, and a 20-piece professional chorus directed by Trish Ferrell Wileman. There will also be a full light show by Light Show Design.
Not yet two years old, AFATAL (an acronym that the band uses to refer to itself privately) are no strangers to challenges, diversity or accomplishments. The band’s first gig ever was The Road to Nightfall, a citywide battle of the bands that left them just one vote shy of the win. They’ve also learned an entire evening of country songs to serve as a backing band for Make-A-Wish girl Michelle Stratton’s dream of fronting a band. They’ve played Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety, while simultaneously projecting the film “The Wizard of Oz.” Oh, and the Road to Nightfall thing? They won it on the second try, despite their lead singer having laryngitis.
The band will serve as their own opening act, playing a brief set of original songs before launching into the Queen show. Tickets are $10. For tickets and more info go to
www.rhythm-brews.com.