Chance plays a prominent role in the reality of fame. Fatdad's Jim McMahon knows that true musicians play for the art, for the release of expression, for the love of what they do. Fame would just be an added bonus.

Fatdad, though quickly increasing in popularity locally and regionally, said they are humbly making music, and happy with what they are doing.

The five-member band has been playing together since December 2005 as a primarily ska band, incorporating reggae beats and accenting the guitar, piano and trumpet, that plays a diverse array of music styles. Jim McMahon describes their music as rock influenced by jazz, funk, even hip-hop that thrives on improvisation and experimentation. They are a jam band, and rely on communication onstage during improvisational sections.

"When we first started playing there would be moments when I'd think 'What key is this song in? What do we do?' " McMahon said, "but as you grow as a unit you find everybody's voice, their part and the chemistry of the people in the band."

The unit consists of McMahon on percussion, trumpet and vocals, his wife Sarah McMahon on piano and vocals, his brother Tommy McMahon on drums, Pat Phillips on guitar and vocals and Brandon Clayson on bass.

On Friday, they are hosting a CD release celebration for their self-titled debut album.

Also playing are Luke Graner and Gypsyfoot.

"It's a nice finality to the process of recording and saving money to get the CD duplicated," Jim McMahon said. "It's exciting to see the culmination of all of our work."

The band was able to record, produce and release the album by saving money from previous gigs. Dave Swenson at Makoche Recording Co. gave the band a good deal by allowing them to pay back studio time with the revenue from the CD sales, Sarah McMahon said.

Jim McMahon and Phillips write most of the music for the band. All the songs on their album are original.

Fatdad plays two to three times a month at Jorgy's, Colonial or Prime Steer in Mandan, but lament that it is difficult to find an all-ages venue locally. They played at a jazz festival in Idaho two summers ago, the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota last summer and have hosted the Harmony Music Festival in Bismarck the last two summers. Thus, they began to network with the Midwest music scene, and that's what the music industry is all about, Jim McMahon said.

The band recently finished up a four-day regional tour of Aberdeen, S.D., Grand Forks, Minneapolis and Fargo that a Minnesota agent booked for them. However, this isn't typical for them as they balance their music life with work and families.

"A person has to have awareness in scheduling things," Jim McMahon said, "but Ithink that we wholeheartedly do all three and makes things work."

Both Jim and Sarah McMahon said they are really into being home for their three boys, Justice, 7, Avery, 4 and Stryder, 2. All three are taking notes from their parents and becoming musical. Oh, and they were very insistent that they also play hockey.

"We always aim to touch somebody somehow through our music," Sarah McMahon said. "We want to communicate a connection to people through music."

That's why Fatdad plays myriad styles. One song could have three-part acoustic guitar and the next could be really heavy, Jim McMahon said. They have a broad demographic, from teens to professionals and are excited that the CD release is at an all-ages venue.

"To make people feel a certain feeling, that's what it's all about," Sarah McMahon said.

CDs are available for $15 at Eckroth Music, String Bean, Nightlife, Makoche Recording Co. and online at CD Baby.

(Samantha Stockman is a senior at Century High School.)