PAGE 16 // WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011
STYLE
the pendulum
Alumni, students rock toward record deal
Jake Valente, Michael Lobacz, Frank Hurd and Ben Soldate plan to release their self-produced first
Influenced by the harmonies and
songwriting of what Hurd calls “great
bands of the past,” the three teamed
up with junior Ben Soldate in spring
2010 and were joined most recently by
freshman Jake Valente.
With a solid foundation, the group
is moving on to bigger things. Hurd
said the band has been looking to play
more venues outside Elon, expand its
fan base in number and location and
talk with Redlight Records about a
management deal.
Phoenix Highway has been talking
about commercials, TV shows and
movies, hoping to build a following
that can support its passion.
“When we get enough momentum
to get rolling and get the CD out there,
we're going to be looking at something
great," Hurd said.
The men of Phoenix Highway have
a lot to be proud of.
“As music technology majors
we did everything for this album
ourselves," Lobacz said. “We put in a
lot of time, which helps with the end
product because we were exposed
from beginning to end."
Hurd said he believes the band’s
role in producing, writing, mixing
and performing its music commands
Rebecca Wickel
Design Editor
Studying for exams, purchasing
textbooks and scrambling to finish
papers are typical parts of a college
student's life. But for some, additional
responsibilities include writing songs,
recording music and playing gigs.
Phoenix Highway, an eclectic
ensemble formed on Elon University’s
campus, has been preparing for the
release of its debut album, “American
Blend,” available Tuesday, Dec. 13.
“We're excited about it,” said senior
Frank Hurd. “What we think is really
cool is that it encompasses a lot of
styles, like rock, acoustic, soul and
country.”
Hurd met Jacob Danieley, class of
2010, and Michael Lobacz, class of
2011, in 2009, when the three were
part of the Elon Electric Ensemble.
After playing together and exploring
interests, the musicians discovered
common sources of inspiration,
including The Beatles and The Eagles.
“We really respect what they do so
much," Lobacz said. “That's where a
lot of our music comes from, trying
to emulate their work, but not imitate
it."
PHOTO SUBMITTED
EP on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Fat Frogg.
a certain respect that will hopefully
translate into fans.
“There’s so few people that
write their own music and do it all
themselves," Hurd said. “We did it all,
and maybe people will be encouraged
to support us and come see us live.”
Although the bandmates are
welcoming success, they have faced
challenges balancing responsibilities
as students, family members and
musicians.
“Some of the guys are still in school
so it’s hard to find time to practice,”
Lobacz said. “Jacob is starting a
family but when we’re on the road
with the band, it's hard.”
Despite obstacles, fans continue to
support the band’s work and look to
the future.
“This band is made up of some very
talented musicians from the drummer
all the way to the lead singer," said
fan and senior Ned Cuthbertson. “1
would definitely recommend seeing
them perform before you graduate, so
in a few years when they get big, you
can say you watched and listened to
them before they got famous.”
Phoenix Highway will be
performing Dec. 7 at College Taphouse,
and Dec. 13 at the Fat Frogg.
FILE PHOTOS BY BRIAN ALLENBY
Top: Senior Frank Hurd sings and taught
himself to play both guitar and piano.
Middle: Singer and guitarist Jacob Danieley
performs at the Fat Frogg.
Above: Michael Lobacz performs on the guitar
and graduated in 2010.
Senior saxophonists prepare for careers in music
Samuel Davis
Reporter
The smooth sounds of
saxophone notes are familiar
to two seniors concentrating
in the woodwind. Jon Moore, a
performance major, and Nathan
Thomas, a music education
major, have been coaxing jazzy
tunes out of their horns since
before they enrolled at Elon
University.
Their first encounter
was four years ago in Elon's
marching band, the Fire of the
Carolinas, when Moore played
tuba and Thomas played
euphonium.
“We met each other outside
of what we usually play, in the
low brass section of marching
band,” Thomas said. “But as we
talked we quickly discovered
that we both were actually
saxophone players. We’ve
been friends ever since, being
together in the studio.”
In middle school, Moore and
Thomas both began their band
careers. Moore started on tenor
sax and Thomas on clarinet.
Moore played in his high
school’s saxophone quartet
called Sax in the City.
“What is really cool about
that is that every person who
played in that quartet went on
to major in music in college,”
Moore said.
He went to his state’s
governor’s school his junior
and senior year, where he and
several others formed a ska
band. Corporate Fandango,
that has lasted to this day. The
band has made a name for itself
in the underground ska scene,
performing with groups such
as Holy Ghost Tent Revival. At
Elon, Moore is involved in a
saxophone quartet, a touring
ensemble, jazz ensemble and
marching band, along with
Corporate Fandango.
“My days are always very
full but it never really seems
like that much to me simply
because I very much enjoy
everything I’m doing with
music,” Moore said.
Thomas is also heavily
involved, performing in
sax quartet, jazz ensemble,
marching band, percussion
ensemble, chorale and
orchestra.
An important experience
Moore and Thomas shared was
the European tour the jazz
ensemble took two years ago. It
was an 11-day journey through
Germany, Denmark and the
Netherlands. The group acted
as jazz ambassadors, bringing
American music to European
countries.
“There really isn’t very
much music that we can call
completely American, but
with jazz, it really is like we
are bringing our own national
culture to people with a limited
exposure to it," Thomas said.
The ensemble played in
many different locations,
ranging from a gazebo by the
street in Germany a crowd of
5,000 in Scheveningen.
After college, both Moore
and Thomas anticipate going
to graduate school. Thomas
hopes to teach high school
music, getting his foot in the
door to eventually study music
therapy in graduate school.
“I hope to help children
with disorders,” Thomas said.
“Down’s, Asperger’s, it doesn’t
matter what. I just know music
has a power that can help
struggling kids in so many
ways.”
He said he hopes to continue
playing the saxophone in
community bands wherever he
goes.
Moore plans to continue
playing with
Corporate
Fandango,
which is
planning
big
some
upcoming
in
to
t o u
bringing
money
help with the
costs of grad
school.
“Everyone
wants to play
for a living,”
Moore
“You
said.
have
to expect
things
not go,
well as
would
while
remaining
optimistic
that things
might just go
well.”
They both
said their
personal
MOLLY CAREY | Staff Ptiotogr^W
Nathan Thomas performed his senior recital Wed., Nov. 30.
Hvi where they can hear at least
inspiration is listening to other one other student continually
students. Whenever they get working hard. They said this
discouraged they will listen brings them motivation to keep
the practice area playing.