By Carolyn Cole/Staff Writer
published March 19, 2008

Years of songwriting and practice is leading four Canadian County musicians to fulfilling a dream — releasing their first album.

The Surely Method will release “Old Love” April 13 in a show at Oklahoma City’s Conservatory, a year after the band won the 2007 “Fight for Fame” battle in which they faced off with 50 other groups.

A portion of proceeds from the April 13 show will benefit Mustang High School’s Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. Canadian County bands Belemonte and The Mocha Band will also perform.

Choosing 14 songs from hundreds they have written was a difficult decision, lead singer Jon Malatesta said. Recording the songs took two months of planning and studio time, and he said he and bandmates — guitar player Barrett Hilbern, bass guitar player Matt Weiss and drummer Sean Holmes — learned a lot about the music business.

“The album is great,” he said. “We are very pleased with it.”
Three hundred copies of “Old Love” will be released April 13, with another 100 on hand. Malatesta said they plan to use profits from compact disc sales to finish repairing a van and go on the road this summer, playing at clubs in surrounding states and meeting other musicians.