Friday January 18: Recher Theater — Towson, MD

Midnight, 530 people pack the floor, the stage is set... Lights hit as Margret Heater greets the crowd with the opening sounds of “Double Rock Park.” They are loud, obnoxiously entertaining and tight.

After the set, singer Brandon Fogle, guitarist-cellist-vocalist Jasan Stepp, bassist-screamer Greg Plummer and drummer Alex Crowley explain why they’re here: Since 1997, Margret Heater have been on a mission to succeed, reaching audience with songs filled with melodic energy. Their upcoming weeks will be hectic. They have two shows coming up, one of which they hope will land them the record deal they are in search of. The weeks between now and then will be a constant regimen of practices, set preparation, and selling out a bus trip for the next big show — a full-time commitment on top of the hectic obligations to work and family. Stepp explains, “We are joined at the hip with a common goal to become a global juggernaut.”

Sunday January 27: 9:30 Club — Washington, DC

Heater is second to take the stage for a benefit show. After a brief delay, they take the stage and hit the crowd with a vengeance, playing “Not a Hit.” In a shortened set, they heighten the rock level at one of the East Coast's premier venues. The crowd goes wild for 35 minutes, losing themselves into the furious energy pouring from the stage.

Cooling off outside after their set, Alex is holding his left wrist, which is covered in duct tape, broken but reinforced, sore after the set. The delay before the set was a pause to wrap it up.

“Our fans came out to support, so we do what we have to do,” says Alex. “And this time required shots of Jack to get through taping up a wrist to play.”

This show was not filled with their usual antics of Greg stuffing his nose with tampons, egging on the ladies. This show wasn’t full of Blink-182 banter. Tonight was all business, with a little pain and sacrifice mixed in for good measure.

January 30: Bus Trip to Don Hill’s — NYC

1:30 Tuesday afternoon, the Wal-Mart parking lot in Glen Burnie, MD. Brandon is skateboarding with buddies. Jason is eating a sub. Greg is with his girlfriend, Stacy, and inquiring fans surround Alex. This is no ordinary bus trip. There is a lot at stake tonight in NYC. A four-hour drive there, thirty minutes to play and four hours back. If the set goes well, the Baltimore band could be signed and move into the limelight. The goal could be in reach. 40 dedicated fans think so, enough to pile on to a bus and help make the dream come true.

Margret Heater has promoted and toured the East Coast. In the summer of 2000, they played 80 shows in 14 states to support the double CD release, Manifest/Destiny. In 2001, they headlined the Locals Only Stage for the HFStival, one of largest radio concerts in the country. They have opened for national acts including Adema, Papa Roach, Green Day and Staind, and independently supported another summer tour in California.

Sitting in the back of the bus, by the beer cooler, I have a chance to find out a little more about the band...

Shana: This band has been around for a while now. How are you guys feeling about Margret Heater today?

Jasan: Every conception of this band until we got Greg sucked pretty much. Then we got Brandon and we sucked a little less. And now that we got Alex we don’t suck at all.
Greg: Well, we still suck a little with Jasan, since he is the only originating member of the times when they sucked.
Jasan: Yeah, at that time I was the only one who didn’t have the long-ass metal hair.
Greg: I never possessed the essence of the 80s hairdo...
Brandon: You had pink florescent hair...
Greg: Yeah, I may have looked like a fruity pie but...

Shana: What no mullets?

Brandon: No, the skater bowl look but definitely no mullets.

An argument breaks throughout the bus... What movie should kick off this trip? Margret Heater wins, with their current favorite, Boondock Saints.

Shana: What other movies are your favorites?

Alex: Predator.
Jasan: Alex and Greg both have Star Wars tattoos, so that one goes with out saying...
Greg: Anything with lesbian porn.
Jasan: American Beauty.
Brandon: Titus.

Shana: You have been working on some new material?

Brandon: We just finished recording 5 new songs with Drew Mazurek in Parkville.
Greg: We haven’t given our fans anything new to listen to in a while. So we decided to go in and record something with Alex.

Shana: Are you enjoying writing with the new line up?

Greg: Yeah, Jasan and I have been writing together for 8 years in this band and another before.

Shana: How did you meet Alex?

Jasan: We known Alex for a couple years now. I met him by overcharging him for a cymbal.
Alex: Yeah, I got my twenty bucks back later...
Greg: What a jerk.
Brandon: He is the quiet one so people don’t realize how much of an asshole he can be. Greg and I are the loud ones so everyone assumes we are assholes.

Shana: I’ve been forewarned of that...

Alex: I am too new to be assumed anything.
Brandon: Yeah, except for the guy who falls and breaks his arm.
Alex: Yeah... that hurt that’s good stuff. (Laughter)
Greg: Brandon and I were like we just missed something.
Alex: Maybe that’s because you guys don’t ever shut up... You know what I mean, yeeaah.
Greg: It takes all kinds in order to make a nice little picture. It would be pretty fucking boring if it were just you two guys... (Laughter) Jasan is just shy.

Shana: And Brandon, how did you end up in MH?

Brandon: I just started hanging out and helping them. One day we were out, I got the idea in my head that it would cooler if I was the singer. So I threw out the idea, and it worked itself out.

Shana: And how has that changed things for you?

Brandon: Greg and Jasan have big families. I’m not a big family guy. I wasn’t doing well in school, so I joined a band. For most guys, they join band because they are slackers, and I admit, that was me initially. But for some people the military helps them. That was what happened to me when I joined up with these guys. You have to be serious to work hard at something. So, I definitely changed.

Shana: How do you feel about playing the showcase tonight?

Jasan: A progressive step. This is something that has to happen for us to be successful.
Brandon: Whether we had this bus trip or not this show was going to happen. It is cool that so many of our friends have come out to support us. Some bands have stage fright of playing in front of people. I don’t have that problem. I have stage fright when there is no one in the room. I am comfortable around people; it’s when there is no noise after a song that kills me a bit.

Shana: How do you feel about your sound, it has progressed over the last year?

Jasan: For me, it is important that it not be meathead stuff, that there are hooks and melodies in it.
Brandon: There is melody under everything we do. When I’m screaming, Jasan’s guitar playing carries it. And when they get chunky in their playing, then I’m carrying it with the help of their harmonies. Over the years we have experimented with samples and DJ’s, but we have concluded for now that we are a four-piece metal band who doesn’t need to doctor it up.

Shana: Did you do anything special to prepare for tonight?

Greg: I am superstitious. I wore the same underwear, outfit and shaved, brushed my teeth all in the same pattern of when we played a showcase in Philly last month. I’ve mimicked everything.

NYC

As we come through the Lincoln Tunnel, things quiet down a bit. Folks are restless and time is now ticking. Rain and traffic have dashed the plan to arrive at the showcase venue by six o’clock. Lost on 8th Street, the driver and band struggle to find the way to Don Hill’s. The intoxicated fans are passing Maxim magazine from seat to seat, and Valentine is one of the remaining video picks. This is the stuff 70s porn and horror movies are made of. We arrive at 7 o’clock. The band unloads and begins putting together the pieces that could help build their future. Fans pitch in, lending their support. Without time on their side, MH soundchecks half of a song and disperses.

Show Time

Promptly at 8 o’clock, Margret Heater takes the stage. Hair spiked, wearing fresh t-shirts, they kick off their set with “Not A Hit.” The crowd responds rush toward stage, swaying and singing along, applauding. Now in their element, MH rock out, giving the crowd what they have craved for hours. They give the crowd everything they have, plus more. Brandon, Jasan, Greg and Alex respond as the crowd reach up with their arms waving, voices singing along and cheering. They are the stars of Don Hill’s.

Returning Home

After we receive our parting instructions — place your beer cans in the white trash bags, no kneeling in the seats, no standing in the aisle — we are off. Fan begin passing around beer, and everyone discusses the incredible show.

“It was fun,” says Brandon. “I feel good. Of course Alex’s arm is killing. But overall I think it went well.”

Cheers shake the bus as everyone chimes in, “You guys ROCKED!”

Brandon takes it in. “Now we’ll just have to wait and wonder if the labels liked it.”