The Reflector

Sister Hazel has stayed on top of its game with No. 1 hits like "Happy" and "All For You."

This Wednesday, Sister Hazel will be making a stop to jam in Starkville again at Rick's Cafe. Southern-rock band Sister Hazel will be ready to rock on Wednesday with special guests The Benjy Davis Project and Elley Duhe.

Release, the band's latest album, was No. 1 on iTunes and also received some of the band's best reviews yet.

While recording this album, the band found it important to follow a democratic process allowing each member to display his own vision and vibe to help the music evolve more than ever.

Each band member produced multiple songs to show their different personalities and this method was clearly a success.

Being so laid back and open to each other's visions is the very reason this band has been together for so many years.

Despite their accomplishments in their longtime music career, they never seem to lose touch with how they came to be. Lead singer Ken Block said this is why they enjoy playing in college towns like Starkville.

"Having started out as a college band, we are always so comfortable in college towns and we've always felt that college students connect with music at that time in their life," Block said. "They become attached to that music for the rest of their life."

Starkville is always a tour stop for them for many reasons, including the immense support from Rick Welch, owner of Rick's.

"Rick has made it easy for us to come around and play when we weren't riding around in a big shiny tour bus," Block said. "We're happy to come give our music to a town like Starkville and hang out with Rick … and have some BBQ."

The band's first trip to Starkville was in 1995 and Welch said he is so happy to have had them come back so many years.

"I had them back in '95 and they were getting big really quick, [in fact] a week after I had them here, I heard Kasey Kasem on the radio announce their song 'Happy' was No. 1 and I almost wrecked," Welch said. "I am so proud of what they've done and to have known them so long and to able to say that we are friends. They are one of the few bands that made it really big and still come back."

Through many growing pains as a group, putting their families first is a large way these musicians have stayed so grounded as a group.

"We are a five man democracy, but we check our egos at the door and try to stick out our battles," Block said. "Even though we have some strong personalities, we each have a great sense of humor and rack each other constantly."

This must be the very reason their fans, aka "hazelnuts," have grown to love and support them above and beyond.

The band is so involved with its fans they put on an event called the Hazelnut Hang, a three-day weekend of music allowing the fans to connect with the music, the band and each other.

"I've really loved their music for years and never miss them when they come through town," said sophomore undeclared major Cristina Ebberman. "They never fail to put on an amazing show and you really notice they are all about making sure we have a great time which is obviously a necessity."

Welch also said the band loves performing for its audiences.

"They are the nicest guys you'll ever meet," he said. "I think the audience can pick up on that at their shows."

Charities are also a huge part of Sister Hazel. The band is known for being open to using its musical success to bring as much attention as possible to helping others.

Each member's life has been affected in some way by cancer, including Block, who lost a brother to the disease.

After the life-changing experience, Block started the charity Lyrics for Life in memory of his younger brother.

This non-profit charity has helped greatly in the fight against cancer and the Web site, lyricsforlife.org, is incredibly worthy of a visit.

Despite being on tour, being so involved in charities and each member having personal projects, the band wants everyone to know they make sure they stay connected.

The band members are thrilled with the thousands of fans they have on their Web site, sisterhazel.com, their MySpace page and their Facebook page.

They enjoy getting on these sites regularly to interact and answer any posted questions.

The show will be a fun time as usual, and tickets are on sale now at Rick's Web site rickscafe.net.

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