Local band gets two Grammy ballots.

Macon, a local alternative rock band is on the Grammy ballot for best rock song “Sex” and best performance by a rock group or duo for “If I could.”

Paul Farris, lead vocals said “Just being on the ballot is a win. Being put on the list with all of those big names is a victory in itself.”

The band said there are thousands of artist submitted in every category. Then the committee narrows those down to 150 to 200 ballots. Those ballots are then sent out to the voting members of the National Academy of Recorded Arts and Sciences and from there it is narrowed down to the 5 who make it to the nomination list. So Macon still has a few steps to go.

Macon is a five piece band consisting of Paul Farris on lead vocals, Melodie Maynard on bass, Jordan Wilkerson on rhythm guitar, Patrick Beckett on guitar and Jared Garren on drums. The only original members left of Macon are Wilkerson and Farris. Members refer to the band now as the seventh version of Macon.

Farris said he found the name Macon in a baby names book and it means “to create or to perform an art.”

Currently it has between 25 and 30 original songs and adding more to the list all the time.

“As of right now we’re writing a new song every couple of weeks, and have been for the last few months.” Garren said. “As far as music, pretty much everyone contributes from the melodies and harmonies down to the structure and how we start and finish the song.”

Garren said Paul and Patrick are mainly responsible for the group’s lyrics.

Farris said that there are multiple songs that have been part of the band for a long time, but only recently taken a new face. He said the recent addition of Maynard and Beckett have really added an edge to the band which was not there previously.

Farris said the secrets to the group’s success are “chemistry and focus.”

“Five different brains going at the same time it’s easy to get sidetracked, but being on the same level is what brought us this far,” Farris said.

The group has already participated in several battle of the bands, placing as high as second several times.

The group has also traveled as far as Denver to play.

Upcoming show locations include Nathan P. Murphy’s in Springfield on February 4, the Billiard’s Blue Room in Springfield on February 17, Pittsburgh Armory in Kansas on February 18 and Java Dave’s in Pittsburgh.

Macon will also be playing at Jim’s bar in Carthage on February 24 and on St. Patrick’s Day and in Joplin at the Quake on February 25.

The group’s first CD, Don’t Let Grudges Go, is currently available at the Joplin Sam Goody. For more information on upcoming shows visit Macon’s Myspace account or Macontheband.com.