On a cold February evening in Springfield, MO, four college students, Colin Elmore, Stephen Owen, Paul Bowen, and Matt Potter, gathered in Elmore’s basement to enjoy a night doing what they did best, playing music. Due in large part to the praise of all the neighbors that heard them that night, they decided to meet up again the next week, but this time with a drummer in the mix. After a second practice and with the addition of drummer Brian Campbell, it was decided that they would officially form a group and begin the process of writing their own material. Berch was formed and started putting on shows that would quickly captivate the attention of the Springfield music scene. Being composed of individuals with very different musical influences and backgrounds produced a sound that is unlike anything else currently being put out. Performances highlighted by Elmore’s soaring vocals and Bowen’s signature sax lines had hundreds of spectators leaving local clubs with wide eyes and jaws dropped. The band was driven by the response they got from audiences and venues alike. Many venues informed Berch that they drew one of the largest local crowds they had ever seen at their venue. News like this fueled hard work and increased the passion the group already shared for its songs. Berch plays with a fire and intensity that many other acts just aren’t matching and it has made all the difference, giving the band unparalleled success for a Springfield band in such a short time frame. Berch has had the opportunity to play several of the areas biggest shows, including the FourFourFest and a show with local super stars Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin that sold out before the opener had even started its set. The 2010 year will be a critical time for the band as it looks to spread its music to a broader, regional audience. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.