In the '90s, they came out of their dusty, cavernous junk havens in threes, fours and fives and trudged to the stage with guitars, matted hair and vacant stares, rallying teens to rise against authority with a laid-back mentality.
A decade later, Athens grunge band The Stragglers are reviving the garage music movement with unpolished, energy-based rock that breaks the traditional college town genres.
The group doesn't focus on musicianship as much as it does on the energy behind the music and on stage presence, said guitarist and vocalist Kyle Butler, an Ohio University senior video production major.
We're always laying our balls out there
said drummer Matt Frires, a sophomore marine biology major.
With a pulsing bass as its backbone, Hendrix-style guitar riffs and straining vocals, The Stragglers' insinuating instrumentals make lyrics an added bonus for listeners.
We try not to be too obvious with the things we write said guitarist and vocalist Shannon Sullivan.
Sometimes, Butler said, he will write lines that don't make sense to him in order to make a song more meaningful.
The band makes music for people who just want to enjoy sound, said bassist Kevin Bednar, a senior video production major. He said the music isn't there to be picked apart and critiqued, but to be enjoyed in its simplicity.
Reaction in any direction is better than no reaction at all said Sullivan, who had lime wedges thrown at him by an audience member at the most recent show.
Because they formed recently, The Stragglers said their audience is usually a few friends of theirs, and half the time they perform to an empty room.
When they do have an audience ' most of the time ' The Stragglers play to a crowd of zombies who stand tapping their toes to the beat instead of dancing, Bednar said.
No matter what the crowd is
we're still doing the same thing on stage
Butler said.
He said he hopes he never loses the feeling of intimidation he gets when he knows established Athens musicians are in the audience. It gives him even more energy and makes him want to play harder.
The Stragglers formed in the fall. Sullivan, Butler and Bednar were roommates and in the surfing club together. While on a surfing trip to the Outer Banks, N.C., Frires took out his bongos and the group started jamming around a campfire.
Until this spring, the band had played a few shows per month, but now it plays one or two shows per week thanks to the members' friends, the members of Jet Set Youth, who find them shows to play.
The band hopes that in the near future, it will be able to go on tour and eventually make a living playing music.
The Stragglers are performing at the United Appeal benefit show with Jet Set Youth, Ryan Goehler and the Barefooted Bootleggers and Max Lewis and the Deep Sea Divers at 10 tonight at O'Hooley's Pub and Brewery, 24 W. Union St. Admission is $2 for ages 21 and up, and $4 for under.
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Kelly Schwaberow
