On Thursday, the Cleveland, Miss., based band Inner 61 performed various cover songs for both UTM students, staff and the Martin community alike.

The band consists of five well-rounded guys from southern Mississippi and west Tennessee. Lead singer Shaun Lloyd hails from Jackson, Miss., bassist Robby Moore calls Germantown home. Guitar and backup vocalist Frankie Glenn is from Memphis. Also, on guitar and backup vocals is Laurel, Miss. native Jody Brady. Last, but not least, is Geoff Whetstone on drums from Gulf Port, Miss.

The performance took place next to the Hardy M. Graham Stadium, two hours before the UTM Skyhawks went against the Tusculum Pioneers. During the performance, UTM students, staff and members of the Martin community listened to music and ate a delicious dinner catered by Sodexho.

The band covered various songs that included hits by modern bands such as Better Than Ezra, Sublime, Alien Ant Farm and Nickelback. For the older members of the audience, they played songs popular long ago but still hip by today’s rock standards.

Lia Fisher, the coordinator of this event sponsored by SAC, said of the event, “They’re cool. I wish there was a bigger turn out.”

The band, created by Lloyd and Glenn while in college at Delta State, has been a work in progress. There have been major developments taking place in the last year and a half, with a couple of members joining in the last five months. The new members hit the ground running, playing gigs immediately after joining the rock band.

The laid-back band rocks hard and puts their hearts into what they love. They have a demo coming out soon with their own songs. It has already been recorded, but is in the process of being edited. The demo is described as heavy alternative with major influence from bands like Incubus and other sources.

The band cited metal, R&B and jazz as their sources of inspiration.

While they normally rock harder than they did at UTM, they agreed that the change in routine was not that bad.

“This change was good for us,”said Lloyd. “It allowed us to focus on the music instead of jumping around the stage like we normally do. We had fun at the same time.” Senior Communications major Parker Magness from Martin said, “They play good for a cover band, but they need to dress better.”

The band performs an average of two to three gigs a week. The band was in Starkville, Miss., on Wednesday and is expected to be at Auburn today. After all their relentless touring, bassist Moore jokingly replied, “If this doesn’t work out we’re going to become brain surgeons.”

John Nelson, a senior History major from Nashville, enjoyed the performance.

“They do a good job of emulating the vocal style of each band they are covering,” he said.

Inner 61 felt very much at home on the UTM campus.

“I like the UTM campus and the field,”said Glenn.

Inner 61’s performance was part of the community picnic, one activity of the this year’s Martin Soybean Festival. The Soybean Festival that began Tuesday and will conclude on Sunday.