An Exact Amount of Music

 Think starting a band is tough? Try doing that and organizing your own headlining concert at the same time.

But that's exactly what Exactly did – This Thursday, the new experimental band will play a set alongside several other groups in a showcase of new talent at the "Westside Convergence." The event will be hosted at Club Good Hurt and will feature visual art to accompany the tunes of those performing.

"We tried to get bands in similar genres," said Sean Mahaffey, bass player and vocalist of Exactly. "Since they're all local bands that no one's really heard of, it's a way to combine our total fan base."

It's an ambitious feat, especially for a group still starting up. But Sean and his fellow band member, guitarist/vocalist Aaron Rosenberg, have been playing their respective instruments for years. "I started playing when I was 10 years old, after listening to a Guns ‘N' Roses record," Rosenberg said.

Although the pair have known each other since their high school days, Exactly is still a developing group, having only been established for a year. Mahaffey and Rosenberg both agreed that it has been a really strong start.

The band's influences derive from groups like Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, and Phish, bands known for their unconventional and out-of-the-norm compositions. Exactly's thought process is just as similar. "Usually [our music] comes from some out-of-the-blue inspiration and develops from there," Mahaffey said.

The band members are also fans of improvisation. "We like to take chances and experiment onstage," said Mahaffey. "It's those moments of improvisation where anything can happen and you see that reaction from the crowd, knowing it can't be recreated."

Currently, the group is working to record an EP that will tentatively be released in April. Exactly also hopes to plan and organize other events in the future after "Westside Convergence."

"It's all about having people know there's a place they can go," Mahaffey said. "[To] build a community where people come and watch some art."

"Westside Convergence" will feature music from Exactly, Magnus Hitch, Auditory Aphasia, and several others. The event will take place on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. at Club Good Hurt, located at 12249 Venice Boulevard.