Sister Hazel

“We put 120 percent into this because we wanted to be able to say we’re willing to work harder than the next band,” said singer/guitarist Ken Block. “Our bottom line has always been that anyone who pays money to come see Sister Hazel and takes time out of their valuable day deserves our time and attention in return.”

What Block means is, this band will do everything possible to please their fans (the Hazelnuts) and uphold their artistic integrity. Along with the almost non-stop touring, Sister Hazel maintains a massive mailing list, designs and markets a merchandise line, produces a top-notch Web site and supports several charities. It’s a superhuman lifestyle but Block, along with acoustic guitarist/singer Andrew Copeland, guitar virtuoso Ryan Newell, bassist Jeff Beres and drummer Mark Trojanowski, thrive on it.

“We toured in concentric circles from our home, hitting these towns over and over, growing the fan base,” Block said. “It got to the point where we were playing to 1,000 to 3,000 people throughout the Southeast. We’d set up the mailing list and when we’d get into town, we’d call people. We kept in touch with everybody. We gave away CDs just to get some product out there, hoping people would connect with it. We worked really, really hard on the grass roots thing.”

In other words, it wasn’t an accident. What may set Sister Hazel apart from a hundred other good regional bands is this group educated itself on the inner workings of the concert business. It was never about “What can you do for me;” it was always “Let’s make this work for everybody.”

“When we wanted to get into a new town or a new club, we’d go in with a plan,” Block said. “We’d say, this is our history, this is what we can do. We’ll do our part to promote the show… use the mailing list, give away CDs. So this strange band comes in and they’re easy to work with and they take care of the people who are taking care of them — from the fans to the promoter, from the bartender to the sound man. Then the buyer or the club owner knows this is a band he can afford to bring in a couple of times because its going to pay off.”

Having great songs and musicianship doesn’t hurt, either. Sister Hazel’s energy and enthusiasm is at the heart of their music. This band has an irrepressible spirit that concert audiences and radio listeners love. Because so many radio formats have added the sweet, up-tempo “All For You,” Sister Hazel has endured comparisons to Hootie & The Blowfish, Blues Traveler and others.

“It’s interesting because we’re a rock band with a pop-rock hit,” said Block. “‘All For You’ is really making us visible across America but when people come to our shows, they see that we’re a high energy rock band.”

Block attributes Sister Hazel’s ability to draw a diverse audience to the diversity of the band itself. There’s something for everyone. “People come for the energetic rock show. They come to see the variety in guitar work; Ryan has an old soul and he plays slide guitar like he’s done it for three lifetimes. People get the acoustic stuff with the vocal harmonies. Plus we’ve got lyrical content. We’re bridging the gap between the poets and the partiers.”

Sister Hazel also balances the surrealism of their growing fame with some very down-to-Earth pursuits. The band supports several national non-profit organizations, including the Make A Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society, AMFAR and Big Brothers-Big Sisters. They’re also regulars at fundraisers around Gainesville and Block said that won’t change no matter how big the band gets. “It’s every bit as rewarding, if not more rewarding than the mainstream kind of success.”

When the owner of a local vintage music store’s wife had a brain aneurism, Sister Hazel pitched in with other area acts and raised $10,000 towards her medical costs. Block said they’re looking forward to playing a benefit for a Ft. Myers youngster who needs a bone marrow transplant. “Some people think it’s not so cool to be doing all these benefits and endorsing these organizations but it feels right to us,” said Block.

That’s not surprising since the band’s name is borrowed from a real Sister Hazel, a missionary woman who has devoted her life to caring for the less fortunate. “Our music is positive, but we never, ever, pretend that every day is Christmas,” said Block, whose younger brother died of leukemia at age 18. “Things like that make you realize what’s really important. Being in a rock band doesn’t make you important but you can use that as a vehicle to do something important.”

Speaking of vehicles, Sister Hazel’s broke down not long ago and the band and crew found themselves in the back of a Ryder truck with all the gear. “We’re driving through middle America with things falling on us, and we hear Casey Kasem say, ‘At number 17, it’s Sister Hazel…’ and I’m thinking, if America only knew where we are now. Nine people stuffed in a Ryder truck with guitars falling on our heads. That’s about as exciting as it gets.”