SALT LAKE CITY — Like many other Salt Lake bands, members of Bludgeon Muffin have a dream to make their music their career. But, hearkening back to musician and activist Bob Marley, the reggae band also hopes its music will inspire people to pick up their instruments and stand up for themselves.

Three members of the five-member band talk about their eclectic history and inspirations that range from music idols to an 8-month-old son.

Bludgeon Muffin is made up of drummer Michael Bailey, ukulele player Nic Snarr, lead guitarist Dan Arrellano, bassist Bruce Kamai and lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Misi Touhuni.

What's your origin story? How long have you been playing music, what inspired you to create a band, etc.?

Michael: When I was 16 I decided to try learning to play the bass guitar. I just wasn’t feeling it and needed something more physical so 11 years ago, I decided to try learning drums. I took lessons for four years while jumping from band to band.

I moved to Salt Lake City in 2010 where I met Rick “Sneez,” owner and percussion teacher at The Groove Dr’s Drum Instruction School in Salt Lake City. He inspired me to start playing again, take lessons and look for a band. This has also led me to being a substitute drum teacher for Sneez.

Daniel: I grew up playing guitar and I've always had an interest in performing live music. I got a taste of it when I was about 11 years old. I had the opportunity to get on stage with my father’s band Road Trip and perform the three-chord classic "Wild Thing."

That adrenaline rush lingered with me. I performed in a couple of talent shows in school as a teenager. My best friends and I formed the short-lived band Smashing Frijoles. I eventually quit jamming with my best buds and started looking for other established bands to join. I needed to challenge myself by performing with better musicians. I joined a metal band and played mostly hard rock and metal for many years after. I eventually found myself in this reggae band.

Nic: Growing up I took some guitar classes and now play the ukulele. The uke's simplicity and easy sound has really attracted me as a long-time reggae fan. The message of love and positivity has been a huge influence for me.

Give me the 1,000-foot view of your sound and style. What does your music make people want to do? (Cry, dance, etc.)

Michael: Our sound and style is different and unique. It is a combination of reggae, rock and blues. It makes people want to dance, smile, bang their head, play air guitar and drums, party, sing and cry.

Daniel: I hope that our music makes people happy and feel empowered. Songs like "Be Alright" has the message that no matter how bad things are or will get everything is going to be all right. Just like Bob Marley told us so long ago.

When I originally formed the band I really wanted to get across message of empowerment. Stand up for your rights.

How did you find the members of your band?

Michael: For me it all started when I met Jesus Padrino at Westminster College where I was working. I was on my break and Jesus sat next to me and started playing "Hotel California." He said he was in a hip- hop rock band called the Diggerz. The next day he looked me up and said he needed a drummer. By the end of the week I was in the band. Daniel was the lead guitarist. We played for a while and did a couple of gigs but things didn’t work out because of other things going on. I also started playing in the Umbells, which is how I met Nic. Turned out Daniel and Nic worked together. Things started falling into place: Dan met Misi, our lead singer who knew Bruce our bass player. We were on our way to having a band.

What inspires you? Who are your musical influences?

Michael: My 8-month-old son, Benjamin Britton Bailey, inspires me. I want him to grow up with peace, love, understanding and Bludgeon Muffin.

I grew up with classical rock and alternative rock. My dad is a big 80s rock fan and mom listened to alternative. I personally was a big 60s, 70s psycadelic rock fan, especially during high school when I was first learning how to play the drums.

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When I met my fiancée Desiree, I became a big fan of jam bands like Phish, Grateful Dead and Umphrey’s McGee. I never really listened to reggae until I started playing with the Umbells and a friend gave me his Bob Marley CD. I instantly fell in love with reggae and taught myself how to play it on the drums. I have also studied and listen to Latin, jazz, blues and funk. I think there is some evidence of all of these genres in my drumming with the Bludgeon Muffin.

Daniel: My father is my biggest inspiration and influence. He played guitar with his older brothers since he was a child and brought me up on a ton of great rock and blues classics. Led Zepplin was a favorite of his. Also Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Santana, and of course Mr. Jimi Hendrix.

So I grew up on all this great music and my father is to blame.

He always told me how important it was to be a good rhythm guitar player and to really be mindful of the rhythms in music when you are playing guitar. So many people can play like Van Halen, but they can't keep timing to save their life. So that always stuck with me.

Nic: The power of happiness and positivity and way too many reggae bands to list.

What do you tell yourself before a performance?

Michael: These people are here to see you and your band. Play harder than you have ever before, give them something to cheer about and have fun in the process. Every show is one step closer to my goal of doing this for a living.

Daniel: I get super nervous. It helps to have my close family and my wife there at the shows. If I can see them I really want to make them proud so I tell myself to have fun so the crowd will feel that vibe and hopefully have a good time too.

Nic: Aside from being mostly nervous, I try to remind myself of the message we're sharing.

What is your five-year plan with your music?

Michael: I am focused on right now. It is hard to say, but if we keep our focus on right now, one practice at a time, one show at a time, one song at a time and our hearts and soul are into this, in five years, we will be signed, we will be on tour, we will be in my hometown in Pennsylvania headlining a show, making a living and providing for our families by doing what we are most passionate about.

Daniel: It's good to have a business plan but you have to break it down into individual goals. So far we are crossing items off of that list and getting closer. Overall, I think we all would love to quit our jobs and play music full time (and) free ourselves up to do what we love and spend more time with our families. Nic: To keep spreading the message of love and positivity with my Bludgeon Muffin brothers.

What has been the most exciting thing to happen in your career to date?

Michael: Playing three separate shows where family members were present while visiting Salt Lake City from Pennsylvania. My dad, my mom and my Aunt Robin got to see me perform live for the first time. That was so exciting for me.

Daniel: It was really cool to open up for Tarrus Riley at the Complex in February. Tarrus Riley at the time had the No. 1 reggae album on the Billboard charts so that was great. It was also really cool to open for Frankie Paul last year at Liquid Joe's. He was really cool and spoke with us, signed our guitars. That was great. Frankie is a legend in the reggae world known as the Jamaican Stevie Wonder, because he is also blind.

Nic: Getting to meet and open for, the legendary, Frankie Paul. He is an inspiration and it was amazing to meet him

Who have you most enjoyed collaborating with, and who is your dream collaboration?

Michael: I have enjoyed collaborating with my first drum teacher Scott Williams and my current drum mentor Rick Sneez, my rock cover band Chasing Meridian and all the members of Bludgeon Muffin. The band members have all been fun to collaborate with in different ways, but if I had to pick a favorite of all times it would have to be Daniel. We have that connection, almost like we can read each other’s mind. We just know what each other is going to do without even planning it or even making eye contact. That’s exciting.

My dream collaboration would be to have a dueling drum collaboration with the drummer Kris Myers from Umphrey’s McGee.

Daniel: We have collaborated with local artists such as Sugarhouse and Makisi who is a phenomenal raga vocalist. He was there at the Tarrus Riley show. We collaborated with local rap group Tres Leches which features my old pal Padrino.

My personal dream collaboration would be maybe Jake Shimabukuro, the famous ukulele player. That's my answer right now though. If you ask me next week it might be a bluegrass musician or Bootsy Collins or something.

Nic: Collaborating with any artist is always a pleasure, but recently we had the opportunity to collaborate with Sugarhouse and Tres Leches. Both groups are very professional and we had a blast.

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