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By KRYS GRANDMOND
Staff Writer

Take this line and think about it a little bit: "a strong creative impulse, especially as a result of divine inspiration".

Do you know what that is?
It's a definition.
Do you know what for?
Afflatus.
Go ahead, get your dictionary out and look it up. It's really there.

Afflatus, a Toronto-based band will give you everything you can expect from a name like theirs.

With Jeff Beadle, 22, on vocals, Scott Honsberger, 25, on drums, Rob Pretsell, 23, on guitar, Matt Rocca, 22, on keyboards, and Luke Vajsar, 25, on bass, this band delivers a show that entertains all listeners through "music which spans a wide array of musical genres while keeping a solid groove".

The band began a mere year and a half ago when the three Toronto-based musicians found their lead man in small-town Welland, in the Niagara Region.

"Rob, Luke and I have been in a few bands together," says Scott, "but none of them really worked out as well as this one has so far. Rob met Jeff when he was attending school at Fanshawe College, and asked him if he'd be interested in forming up a band. Jeff knew Matt from highschool, and knew that his talents would make a great addition, and that's how Afflatus came to be."

So the band came together and started writing. While there's no one genre they're going for, Scott says the band usually likes to describe their music as a "groove-based rock. Heavy enough to make you want to move, and groovy enough to give you something to move to."

As for musical influences, the band has been compared to many different styles, bands and artists which none of them listen to on a regular basis.

"While we all have our favorites, it's tough to say that there are specific influences that are apparent in our music. I think we're all more inspired by artists for what they DO as opposed to what they PLAY. Like take someone like Ben Harper, for example. We don't sound like him at all, so we can't really list him as an influence, but we all really love the fact that he's doing his thing, regardless of what the masses chant for. His albums are so diverse, it's tough not to listen to them in awe, as in 'How can this guy play both Gospel AND metal so damn well?' We really admire and respect artists who keep true to themselves, cause that's exactly what we're all about."

Being based out of both Toronto and the Niagara area, the band is able to play all points in between and has generated a fan following in a number of cities. Most of their shows, however, are in the Toronto area.

"We play the majority of shows in Toronto," says Scott, "Just because that's sort of where the scene is."

But the group likes to get out to the smaller cities where fans happily welcome them.

"Luke, Rob and I are originally from Burlington, and we played a show on Boxing Day back there which was awesome. We've got quite a few fans who come from there to see us play, so it's nice when you can go to them and save them the trouble of commuting out to the 'big city'."

Afflatus has played a list of different venues. The Kave, Rancho Relaxo, El Mocambo, C'est What, Zaphods and Nathan Phillips Square are just to name a few. But The Horseshoe seems to be a favourite among indie bands, and just as I thought, it is the favourite of Afflatus as well.

"There's so much history there, it's incredible. I mean, the STONES played there! That aside, the staff and the sound crew are really cool. It's a very professional place to play. All too often, you get to a show at a bar or wherever, and they're not equipped to handle a live band. The sound equipment is SO vital to putting on a good show, and it's equally as important to have someone who knows how to run it. The 'Shoe has all of that."

Having been in the music scene for more than six years now, Scott says that this band has a list of qualities that he's confident will help them be more successful than past attempts.

"Ambition, drive, determination, skill, luck, and persistence all play a role in becoming successful in anything you do," he says. "With the amount of dedication and personal drive that the members of this band has, I'm confident that our success will catch up to our level of determination at some point down the road. It's all about how much you put into it."

But even with determination and drive, there's always something that needs improvement. It's the way of life, and Scott admits that the band still needs to learn more.

"Learning how to get the word out there is something which we're constantly trying to improve on. Expanding our fanbase through word of mouth is our focus for the upcoming months."

That's what we're here for Scott. Now, go to your web browser and type in www.afflatusband.com and witness everything that is creative, impulsive, divine and inspiring.