"We're blessed to have made it to the finals," says Daze lead vocalist Greg Mayeda. "With the evolvement of our music, we've become more serious musicians. In return we've gotten more people to understand what the message of reggae music is all about."
What began as a UNLV-dorm-jam collective named Kutter in April 2003 has included members from Iowa and North Dakota; drummer Renaldo Elliott hails from Denver, guitarist Ryan Mappala from Alaska. Mayeda himself recently returned to his home state of Hawaii but remains committed to the group. Rounded out by bassist Jonah Pascua and keyboardist Anthony Crisologo, ForTwentyDaze and fellow bands Bonafide, Liquid Roots and Soul Redemption hope to give the Vegas reggae scene "a little kick in the pants."
"Some people misconstrue our name," says Mayeda. "It's more about the feeling we all get through music. There's a different reason why we're here: providing good vibes and a positive message—a worldly message—that we're all united."