Being a local legend has its perks, but can it pay the bills? Several bands that include Ohio University students are looking to expand their fame as far as their vibrations can reach and make a lifestyle out of rocking crowds.
It begins with individual talents, and becomes a unified machine of sound. Each of these bands came together in different ways, but they all have the same wide-eyed dreams.
Joel Henderson, Jason Swearigen and Jeff Kell formed their punk band, Love and Squalor, in May 2003. The trio soon found it was learning to play better than its heroes and getting gigs around Athens.
No lie
our second show was (a) sorority talent contest Henderson said. So naturally we got trashed.
Every up-and-coming band bears the burden of paying dues. Whether it is playing in front of four uninterested people or playing birthday parties, bands usually must put in unglamorous hours before making it big. And even after doing the work, many don't make it out of their hometowns.
Pop-punk act Flinch banded together more than two years ago and is now getting big breaks in the business. Drummer Sam Lee, an OU senior, remembers the band's first trip to Pittsburgh, when a local band cancelled and they played to hardly any audience.
With this show
if you didn't get enough people to attend
you had to pay the sound man
Lee said. We bit the bullet and did the show for a couple people anyways. Now when we go back
the crowd is looking better each time.
OU junior Bob Eklich joined his band, The Mad Ones, three years ago and is still looking for that big show. The Mad Ones have spent their time rocking house parties and clubs at midnight for a handful at overbooked shows in the Cleveland area.
We're at a stage where we have core fans; some of them are friends turned fans
and some are fans that are friends now
Eklich said.
Once a band gets through those rough first shows, it is often up to their commitment to determine how far the music travels.
Flinch had a song featured in the National Lampoon movie Dorm Daze and was flown out to LA to meet the cast.
I got to meet the Shermanator from 'American Pie' and Topanga from 'Boy Meets World
' Lee said. The band refused to settle at that. Flinch has been featured on several independent label compilations and is starting to open for national acts.
Now we play with bands that know what the hell they're doing
and we still feel a little clueless
