"It is kind of stressful when someone tells you that you're going to make it big," said Aaron Duke, lead guitarist for Touch Me Tease Me.
The new band has made a name for itself in the Joplin area. The group has made regular appearances at Blackthorn Pizza and Pub and Vintage Stock.
"Many people think we have been together for years, but it's only been about five months" said Alex Fuhr, lead vocals and rhythm guitarist.
All of the members have been involved with music for a long time, just not one with this much potential. "I've been with a few bands, but this is the first time I felt the band could actually be going somewhere," said Nate Robusto, drummer.
The band has great chemistry, especially between Robusto and bassist JP Rogers. "If there isn't a solid connection, or good chemistry then the band is not going to do well," Rogers said.
Rogers plucked the strings with ease at last week's rehearsal and fit in with Indie/rock band.
"I have never played with this kind of band before," he said.
Fuhr is the lead singer and writes most of the music for the band, however the others have made contributions as well. Duke and Fuhr collaborated on the song "Burn Baby Burn," which was written about the apartment fire last year.
"Aaron and I were sitting in the parking lot where the fire happened, doing some security," he said. "We watched these people and saw how they had lost everything, and that's how the song came about."
The other songs are more typical love tunes.
A name such as Touch Me Tease Me could lend itself to scrutiny or mockery on many levels, which is something that has already happened.
"When we thought about a name for our band we wanted something that would grab peoples attention," Fuhr said. "We wanted that sort of name that is easy to remember, is intriguing and will make people want too know what we are all about." Though the title is suggestive, the singer wants people to know that the band is all about staying positive, living life, and being full of love.
Upcoming shows include that of tomorrows B-Town Indie Grove Festival in Branson, Blackthorn Pizza and Pub on March 4th at 8 p.m. and the Rock Against Meth concert at Memorial Hall on April 8th. The band is extremely excited about the concert at Memorial Hall; Joplin's biggest venue. The concert is going to feature the bands Red, Project 86, and Write This Down.
The band is currently under management by Josh Shackles of Shackles Productions. "As a manager I have to be involved with the community, make the right connections. Sending letters to people to get gigs, and lots of PR," said Shackles. The band's manager also said that a CD should be expected in the early summer.
The band's Facebook page is located at www.facebook.com/touchmeteaseme.