The Green Hit Experience
March 2008: Featured Band

The members of Green Hit work hard to combine musical knowledge, talent and passion to create unique experiences for themselves and their audience. The only rule Green Hit has is to play original music.

Green Hit is made up of five instrumental band members: Tony Wirkus – Bass, Chase Hudson – Keys, Dan Hall – Guitar, Sean Sullivan – Drums and Trey Hebson – Trumpet.

Joey Morrissette joins them behind the scenes to provide professional sound and theatrical LED (Light Emitting Diode) electroluminescence for an amazing show.

History
Inspired by local musicians in the South Walton area and around the Emerald Coast, Tony started playing the bass when he was 14.

Chase got his start on guitar and bass when he was 14. He began on the keys about two years ago and plays the electric grand piano in the band.
 
Dan has played music his entire life. He can play almost every standard musical instrument and said that he pulls inspiration from all styles, “jazz, bluegrass, everything.”

Sean started playing drums when he was 12 and has always been inspired by “the musical everything,” finding musical influences in everyday life. 

Since his father was a band director, Trey has been immersed in music his entire life. He started playing piano at 5 years old, and then fell in love with the trumpet at age 12.

Trey thanks his former teacher, trumpet player Frank Gordon, for his inspiration. “He taught me to go after my own language,” Trey explained.

Tony and Chase had been musical acquaintances for years before they met up with Dan in 2007. Wanting to take their sound to the next level, the three members found Sean who added electricity. The final touches were added by Trey – the last member to join the ranks of Green Hit.

The band members range in age from 19 to 32 and live all around the area from Pensacola to South Walton. They met through the musical network on the Emerald Coast. Several band members played on stage with other Emerald Coast musicians, including Reed Waddle and Lyndsey Battle.

Green Hit came together in 2007, performing on the outdoor porch at Amore Pizzeria in South Walton County.

“That is where we practiced and developed our sound,” Tony said.

Original sound
The Green Hit songwriting process begins when one of the band members brings in an idea.

“I get my ideas from an amalgamation of everything I have heard,” Trey said.

They all contribute and are open to ideas. But, they share their ideas through the music.

“We use our instruments as our voices,” Sean said. 

Everyone develops their own parts in each song through their instruments as they play together.

“I just play what I hear in my head to match the song,” Chase said.

Green Hit practices until the sounds develop an identity. “The song reveals itself live,” Dan explained.

Joey Morissette with InMyTreeLive! production provides instant archival recordings for all of their music.

Green Hit’s original music does not have lyrics. The sound is a fusion of musical elements without words. When asked what they want their music to convey, they answered, “freedom.”

The lack of lyrics “allows the audience to be honest in what they are feeling,” Dan said. “They don’t have to try to figure out what the lyrics mean.”

The songs are influenced by jazz, soul, funk, rock and other musical elements. The music flows between instruments from hard beats to smooth sounds to synthesized riffs. There is a non-verbal conversation between band members and the audience.

“It gives you a place to think whatever you want to think,” Trey said.

They are dedicated to providing a unique experience for each audience at every show.

“People of all ages respond to the music,” Sean said. “We are constantly surprised by the diversity in our crowds.”

Find Green Hit
Green Hit is currently working on its first album. But, Green Hit fans do not need to wait for the album to enjoy the music. Check out the band on its official Web site at http://greenhit.net or on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/greenhitband. Download samples of the music, check out the latest music videos and receive updates on the album release as well as show information.

Green Hit plays regularly on the Emerald Coast and in other Southern cities. Check out some of the upcoming shows:

• March 8 at 6 p.m.: Amore Pizzeria, Santa Rosa Beach
• March 14 at 10 p.m.: All Saints Café, Tallahassee
• March 15 at 10 p.m.: The Gutter Lounge, Pensacola
• March 27 at 10 p.m.: Funky Blues Shack, Destin
• March 29 at 6 p.m.: Amore Pizzeria, Santa Rosa Beach
• April 5 at 6:45 p.m.: Mossy Headz Music Festival, Mossy Head
• April 10 at 8 p.m.: Sluggo’s, Pensacola
• April 11 at 10 p.m.: Government Street Grocery, Ocean Springs, Miss.
• April 12 at 6 p.m.: Amore Pizzeria, Santa Rosa Beach
• April 19 at 10 p.m.: Camp Jam Festival, Lacoochee
• April 25 at 10 p.m.: The Warehouse, Tallahassee
• April 26 at 6 p.m.: Amore Pizzeria, Santa Rosa Beach