With two records out and a third almost ready to go, The Deli thought it was about time we caught up with Murfreesboro hardcore punk band Tetsuo, namely frontman Ardis Redford. For a loud and prolific band, they’ve been making their mark around town quietly and to few. But The Deli thinks they’re too interesting a band to go unnoticed. Here, Redford talks about Tetsuo’s first two records, These Crystals Don’t Burn and Inmates, and how they do or don’t fit into Nashville. Read interview.

Mercy Lounge swooned while the mobbed corners of the viewing floor spun. Filtered through moist screams, friends of molly and children with exes on their hands and smoked liquor in their hearts, happy to have companions who have fun the same way they do, a chant could be heard bouncing across the rafters. “This is baby-making music,” said one swaying observer when asked to describe the bands capricious, cross-genre vibe. With thoughts of Al Green and Barry White running wild, it was surprising when two white kids from Murfreesboro stepped to the podium, and the lusting crowd went nuts at the sight of Cherub. It was apparent there would be plenty of babies made that night in Nashville and with the release of Cherub’s new album MoM & DaD, a follow-up to Man of the Hour, many more would be made to their music soon enough.

Cherub had arrived to give audiences what they needed; a dose of white boy sex appeal and heart- revving soul style.

Cherub is made up of two new age, electronic savvy b-boy crooners with R&B soul, also known as Jason Huber and Jordan Kelly. The two met in “the boro” two years ago while attending MTSU, and have been performing together ever since. Before meeting, Jason was a member of the Boroughs, a Murfreesboro outfit with occasional gigs in Nashville, and Jordan was a relatively unknown creator of music in a do-it- yourself fashion with a midi keyboard and some recording equipment. Jordan, originally hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, came to Middle Tennessee with metal music and hip hop on his mind. While those influences are still heard in many of Cherub’s songs, he was inspired to use the low budget tools at his disposal to produce lyrically cache, electronic club ballads. And it is true; Jordan does not shy away from going falsetto. After a few rehearsals, it was evident that the duo’s musical ambitions were aligned.

The pair was signed to Elm & Oak during the recording process of MoM & DaD, sometime during early winter 2011, only a few months after coming together and forming Cherub. The band’s first official show was Dec 1, 2010.

A Cherub show is reflective of their music. Lights, smoke and heavy doses of frenzied crowd participation, with moments when every bloat in the room is singing along. If you don’t mind getting your feet stepped on by either drunk women or blinded concertgoers, because yes, the lights are damn bright, then follow the guys as they go on tour. Cherub will be taking the album on the road and is hoping to release MoM & DaD on vinyl soon. – Dh Wright