It’s a cool Friday night and inside FAU’s Coyote Jack’s, rock-infused reggae band, Spred the Dub, is getting ready to perform.

Lead singer Mick Swigert, an Irish-Italian-American, dressed in a tweed fedora hat and a T-shirt that reads “Pink Pussycat Boutique” in hot pink letters, stands on stage and does a mic check.

John Leonard adjusts his messenger cap and tests rhythms on his drum set. To his right is bassist Kevin Johnson. Corey Tyler sets up both his keyboard and guitar. Next to him is Markis Hernandez, tuning his saxophone.

“We love your mustache!” yell two blonde girls, dressed in togas, to Swigert.

There are beers on nearly every table and one birthday celebration complete with cake and candles.

They shouted twice more and though he didn’t hear his admirers, Swigert said it’s not the first time his ‘stache has stolen the show.

“It’s hard to go out with a handlebar mustache and not get attention,” he said with a laugh.

But when Swigert starts singing, the last thing you picture are his curling chestnut brown facial hairs.

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In 2007, Spred the Dub got its start at the Funky Buddha in Boca Raton. The dimly lit hookah lounge and brewery would hold open jam sessions, watched by a packed house.

“We would just bring our amps and jam,” said Swigert, who once worked as a bartender at the Funky Buddha.

Twelve at a time would bring their instruments to perform covers or improvise in front of the crowd. Out of the regular musicians, five discovered they were interested in starting a band. Included were Swigert, Leonard, and three former members — Boris Afremov, Jose Che, and Flint Blade.

The group shared a love for reggae music along with rocksteady, rootsy — a style similar to that of Mumford & Sons — and dubstep music and began practicing together.

About two months later, the guys booked their first gig at the Funky Buddha for April 20, where they all first met. But they still needed a name.

Che, an organic chef who doubled as the band’s percussionist, suggested “Spread the Dub,” which was inspired by his spread and cream cheese company.

“He was like the father of the group,” said Swigert. “He cooked for us all the time and would hook us up with spreads.”

The band’s new name was agreed upon by the members and it was former guitarist, Afremov, who volunteered to create their flyer.

“He was super stoked,” said Swigert.  “He had no problem doing the grunt work.”

After a trip to Kinko’s, Afremov met with the band holding a box of flyers containing a major typo. The guitarist, whose fourth language was English, had misspelled “Spread,” leaving the band with 1500 flyers reading “Spred the Dub.”

“We figured it would be a hassle to change names,” said Swigert.

The group laughed at the flyers and now sees their band’s name as unique, rather than a misspelling.

“It looks too right with an ‘A’ now,” said Johnson. “When people spell it right, it looks wrong.”

Since Spred the Dub got its start in 2007, it has seen a few faces come and go. Only Swigert and Leonard remain from the original group.

According to Swigert, they never had a solid bass player until Johnson, who joined in 2008. Tyler, who came from another band, joined as guitarist and keyboardist in 2009.

Spred the Dub introduced trombonist Sam Szpendyk and, finally, saxophonist Markis Hernandez last year after responding to Johnson’s advertisement they found online.

“We linked up on Craigslist,” said Hernandez, who was looking for gigs. “He invited me to practice and we started jamming.”

“Me and Sam are on the same page when it comes to music,” said Hernandez. “We play well together.”

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Before the show, the bandmates are relaxing outside of FAU’s Student Union.

“So do you guys wanna do an all country set or what?” Swigert jokingly asks.

The rest of the guys laugh at the lead singer and realize they have yet to decide on their set list. The members all begin to chip in song ideas before their set begins in 30 minutes.

“We usually just brainstorm right before a show and decide what we’re going to do,” said Johnson.

A few puff on cigarettes as the band jokes about everything from toga parties to their grandmothers’ cooking.

“Man, I just had a big Italian dinner at my grandma’s house,” said Swigert. “I’m ready to pass the fuck out. I have so much pasta running through my veins.”

“Please don’t do that,” Hernandez replies.

Their comical chemistry make them seem like childhood friends.  It’s hard to believe it was only six years ago that the band began to take shape.

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Currently, Spred the Dub is working on a new album titled “Good Time Reggae” which, according to Swigert, will be released in the late summer. The band records at Shade Tree Studios, owned by their friend, Mike McCleary.

Every Wednesday, Spred the Dub practices and records inside the small studio’s live band room.

The laid back vibe is complete with Red Stripe beers and curry goat from a nearby Haitian market. It’s there that the band’s creativity flourishes.

“We sit around, drink beers, and jam,” said Swigert. “It’s not uptight, everyone gets a little loose.”

Spred the Dub records their practices to make sure that an improv groove or band member’s idea isn’t forgotten.

“We take our time to make sure we get it right,” said Swigert.

Swigert says the songwriting process can be meticulous because each song may take up to a month to finish.

The band is also working on original material for FAU’s record label, Hoot/Wisdom’s compilation (or Compowlation) album.

Every three semesters, the student-run record label releases an album with songs from various artists of different genres. After Hernandez got in touch with Hoot/Wisdom, the band was able to secure a deal to feature two songs on the album.

Along with recording, Spred the Dub continues to play live shows. They have performed in many Florida cities, including Jacksonville for Reggaefest as well as Gainesville.

But their regular gig is in downtown West Palm Beach. Every Monday night, the band plays at Longboard’s on Clematis Street.

The tiki bar and seafood restaurant comes alive, despite it being the start of a new work week. Swigert says it’s always a packed party that usually lasts until two o’clock in the morning.

“Usually people on Monday are miserable, but [at Longboard’s], they get crazy, dance, and start sweating,” says Swigert. “Only reggae can do that.”

Looking to the future, Tyler, who also works as the band’s manager, hopes Spred the Dub will continue to write more music and play shows. He wants growth for the group but hopes their values revolve around music.

“We’re looking to branch out, but the music comes first.”

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As the band begins playing their song “Be Free,” Swigert’s appreciation of reggae music shines. His love for the genre stems from his childhood when his mom listened to Bob Marley songs at home.

Swigert’s resonant, smooth tone mimics rocksteady legends like Alton Ellis and lays over the band’s upbeat surf sound seamlessly.

“Sit back, relax, and have a beer,” Swigert tells the crowd of about 150 people before the music kicks in.

People in the crowd enjoy the music as they dance and sway back and forth, some with Blue Moon beers in hand.

“Cheers, everyone,” Swigert says as he takes a sip from a cup resting by his microphone stand.

The 45 minute set included feel-good songs such as “You and I” and “Too Long” from their self-titled first album released last year.

After the final song, fans approached the stage to chat with the band, compliment their performance, and buy their CDs. Spred the Dub then packs up their instruments into Johnson’s white Suburban truck, satisfied after a good show.

“It was awesome,” said Swigert. “It opened us up to people who might’ve never heard of us.”

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[title type=”h4″]The long road[/title]

This week, Spred the Dub faced some big setbacks — like a quitting guitarist and an arrested drummer — all within the same week

March 28 could be a considered a dark day for singer Mick Swigert. Spred the Dub’s headlining performance at Reggae Fest in Daytona Beach this week had been jeopardized after guitar and keyboard player Corey Tyler quit the previous week.

“He threw a bitch fit and now he’s gone,” said Swigert. “We haven’t heard from him.”

Tyler also served as the band’s manager, but according to Swigert, his tasks will be delegated to the rest of the band.

Spred the Dub was dealt another blow when drummer John Leonard was arrested this week after an alleged altercation with his live-in girlfriend.

After not hearing from Leonard by phone or on his Facebook page, trombonist Sam Szpendyk decided to figure out what could have happened to the drummer.

It was a Wednesday night, and the band was waiting on Leonard to show up to practice for their gig the next day at Fat Cat’s in Fort Lauderdale.

“Sam went online and checked the booking report,” said Swigert. “Sure enough, homeboy got picked up.”

Leonard was bailed out the following day by his bandmates and is now able to play Spred the Dub’s upcoming shows, including Reggae Fest, which will feature them as well as 20 other acts.

Although the band didn’t lose their drummer, they still had to figure out who would fill in for Tyler. After all, they had a gig the next day and the former band member played two instruments.

Time to call in the second string.

Two friends — Marco Topic and Hunter Hutchings — from another band, Rundowntown, have been tapped to play the keyboard and guitar, respectively, for Spred the Dub’s gig.

“We have honorary members. We’re kinda like a gang,” Swigert said with a laugh. “When we lose a player, we have someone to jump in.”

Despite the potential loss of two band members, Swigert and the rest of the band are taking it all in stride.

“We were really nervous but now everything is good,” said the singer. “The show must go on.”