Ask any band member where he get his influences from and many will say something like the Beatles, Led Zepplin or any other older band. But what about the modern local bands still active and playing?

Che Frederick, senior communications major and drummer for Mugwump Specific, said his music playing is influenced by modern bands such as The White Stripes, The Black Keys and lots of blues bands including the Muddy Water Blues, a MySpace chain group.

However, Frederick finds it difficult to narrow his choices to specific bands or artists, let alone a specific genre.

“I have a crazy range of music on my computer that I like to keep on shuffle,” Frederick said. “I recently got a Little Boy Jr. CD. Those guys are real kickass.”

Michael Pond-Jones, senior musican education major and sousaphone player for Funk Biscuit, said he gets his influence from Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire. Pond-Jones enjoys listening to bands that emphasize on brass with powerful horns that sound together.

“I enjoy horns that are not just a side group and are actually part of the action,” Pond-Jones said. “I enjoy bands that do that with brass.”

Funk Biscuit gets its influence from other modern bands such as the Young Blood Brass Band, Rage Against the Machine and Hot 8 Brass Band. However, Pond-Jones says he cannot just pick specific bands that give him an influence.

“I get an influence from everything I listen to,” Pond-Jones said. “There is never really a time that I don’t listen to music and don’t get influences.”

Ian Winston, also known as I2K, is a local hip hop solo artist and a senior art major. He gets his influences from musicians such as Lupe Fiasco, Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy and J Dilla. Winston said he has something in common with the artists who influence him.

“They all have a message they want to give out,” Winston said. “They are not like everyday artists and groups. They don’t talk about nothing. These guys have a message.

Rage and Public talk politics in the community.”

Winston said he listens to other artists and different genres, even if they do not give him as big of an influence. When Winston was little, his sister introduced him to Flaming Lips.

“I was amazed. I was about the rock when I was a kid,” Winston said. “Still, everything I listen to gives me some type of influence.”

Scott Chaplinski, guitarist and singer who also schedules bands for bars, said he gets his influences from almost all music.

“Honestly, it’s anything that sounds good. I’m not into one genre,” Chaplinski said.

“As long as the band is talented and works hard, and I enjoy listening (to) them. Eric Clapton is my No. 1 in everything he does.

Everything he does is really cool.”

Chaplinski said he listens to a lot of radio and whatever everyone else listens to.

“I don’t really buy CDs myself,” he said. “I don’t have an iPod. If I hear a song and I like it, I will listen to it. I’m always listening to something new.”

Adam Lily, communication studies senior and drummer for Buried in Black, said he gets his inspiration from DevilDriver and Coal Chamber. He said he also enjoys Five Finger Death Punch.

“I like how they mix the heavy with the soft,” Lily said. “The singer still screams but has good, clean vocals. It’s not my kind of style, but I still enjoy it very much.”

Many of Charleston’s local artists and bands get their influences from all sorts of different modern artists. However, as musicians, they can all agree that they get some kind of influence from any song that reaches their ears; some more than others.

Michael Cortez can be reached at 581-7942 or mjcortez@eiu.edu