While it might not seem like a musical hot bed, Auburn has proven to be a town that breeds many bands.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Members of October Nites, from left, bassist Bryan King, drummer Brandon Wakeham, and guitarist Naren Ananda rehearse Thursday afternoon in Fleming.
Members of October Nites, from left, bassist Bryan King, drummer Brandon Wakeham, and guitarist Naren Ananda rehearse Thursday afternoon in Fleming.
A fact that a couple of Auburn musicians know first hand.
Brandon Wakeham, 25, and Naren Ananda,24, were members of one of the biggest bands to be born from Auburn, hardcore/metal band If Hope Dies.
The band went on to be relatively successful, releasing several albums through Metal Blade records, releasing a video and touring the world.
But after the band decided to go on hiatus, Wakeham and Ananda had no intention to stop making music.
The duo was recruited by a singer to form an acoustic project, which has over the past two years developed into their latest band, October Nites.
“It started off as an acoustic project,” Wakeham, the band's drummer, said. “But now it has evolved into a whole band.”
Wakeham said the original singer has since left the group, but he and guitarist/songwriter Ananda pressed on and recruited bassist Bryan King, 25, from Syracuse, solidifying the trio's lineup.
From the beginning, October Nites, starting out acoustic, was intended to be a departure from Wakeham and Ananda's previous band and as the band has evolved they have stuck to that idea, creating their own brand of pop rock.
“We wanted to go in a different direction,” Wakeham said. “We wanted to do something completely different and there is a big difference in the music we are playing now.”
Wakeham said that the genesis of their songs will generally start with Ananda, who will write some lyrics and a guitar riff or chord progression and then as a band they will get together to hammer out the arrangements.
While Wakeham and Ananda did experience a certain degree of success with their former band, they have lofty goals for October Nites.
“I think our music might be more main stream,” Wakeham said. “It is probably a little more accessible. You can only go so far on an indie label like Metal Blade. I think what we are doing now has a real chance to get on a major label. We really want to take this as far as we can. We want to tour, we want to get some more videos on MTV, we want to get our music out there to as many people as we can.”
And so far they have been fairly successful at that mission.
The band has received strong reviews from respected musical publications such as AbsolutePunk.net and have had their songs featured on MTV shows like NEXT and Parental Control.
Wakeham said that the band has been fortunate.
“People have liked our music,” Wakeham said. “People have heard it and have liked it, that is how we got on MTV.”
But their building success has to do with more than luck.
“People like the music,” Wakeham said. “We are so thankful to all the people that have listened to us and have been so supportive of what we are doing.”
The band has also been fortunate in other ways.
With two Eps the band was ready to start shopping their music around to labels and management.
But they didn't have to look too hard when Anthony Messina of American Artist Entertainment Group found them.
“We were thinking about a few different people for management,” Wakeham said. “Then he found us. He heard our music online and liked it and got in touch with us. He has been helping us a lot.”
The band will soon be releasing an album made up of their two Eps and some unreleased material through Bullion Records in Japan.
Right now the band is focused on getting signed to a record deal in America and touring extensively.
“We're working on some new songs,” Wakeham said. “We're doing some recording right now and we'll have two new songs coming out soon.”
Even more immediately the band will be headlining a show at the Westcott Center in Syracuse.
“This is our first headlining show locally,” Wakeham said. “We'll be playing with Road to Recovery, they are cool guys. It should be a good show and we hope a lot of people come out and have fun.”
If You Go
October Nites, 4 p.m., today, The Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St., Syracuse
Cost: $8
All ages: Featuring October Nites, Road to Recovery, Sonic Kings, Fighting Wallace
For more information: visit www.myspace.com/octobernites
Brandon Wakeham, 25, and Naren Ananda,24, were members of one of the biggest bands to be born from Auburn, hardcore/metal band If Hope Dies.
The band went on to be relatively successful, releasing several albums through Metal Blade records, releasing a video and touring the world.
But after the band decided to go on hiatus, Wakeham and Ananda had no intention to stop making music.
The duo was recruited by a singer to form an acoustic project, which has over the past two years developed into their latest band, October Nites.
“It started off as an acoustic project,” Wakeham, the band's drummer, said. “But now it has evolved into a whole band.”
Wakeham said the original singer has since left the group, but he and guitarist/songwriter Ananda pressed on and recruited bassist Bryan King, 25, from Syracuse, solidifying the trio's lineup.
From the beginning, October Nites, starting out acoustic, was intended to be a departure from Wakeham and Ananda's previous band and as the band has evolved they have stuck to that idea, creating their own brand of pop rock.
“We wanted to go in a different direction,” Wakeham said. “We wanted to do something completely different and there is a big difference in the music we are playing now.”
Wakeham said that the genesis of their songs will generally start with Ananda, who will write some lyrics and a guitar riff or chord progression and then as a band they will get together to hammer out the arrangements.
While Wakeham and Ananda did experience a certain degree of success with their former band, they have lofty goals for October Nites.
“I think our music might be more main stream,” Wakeham said. “It is probably a little more accessible. You can only go so far on an indie label like Metal Blade. I think what we are doing now has a real chance to get on a major label. We really want to take this as far as we can. We want to tour, we want to get some more videos on MTV, we want to get our music out there to as many people as we can.”
And so far they have been fairly successful at that mission.
The band has received strong reviews from respected musical publications such as AbsolutePunk.net and have had their songs featured on MTV shows like NEXT and Parental Control.
Wakeham said that the band has been fortunate.
“People have liked our music,” Wakeham said. “People have heard it and have liked it, that is how we got on MTV.”
But their building success has to do with more than luck.
“People like the music,” Wakeham said. “We are so thankful to all the people that have listened to us and have been so supportive of what we are doing.”
The band has also been fortunate in other ways.
With two Eps the band was ready to start shopping their music around to labels and management.
But they didn't have to look too hard when Anthony Messina of American Artist Entertainment Group found them.
“We were thinking about a few different people for management,” Wakeham said. “Then he found us. He heard our music online and liked it and got in touch with us. He has been helping us a lot.”
The band will soon be releasing an album made up of their two Eps and some unreleased material through Bullion Records in Japan.
Right now the band is focused on getting signed to a record deal in America and touring extensively.
“We're working on some new songs,” Wakeham said. “We're doing some recording right now and we'll have two new songs coming out soon.”
Even more immediately the band will be headlining a show at the Westcott Center in Syracuse.
“This is our first headlining show locally,” Wakeham said. “We'll be playing with Road to Recovery, they are cool guys. It should be a good show and we hope a lot of people come out and have fun.”
If You Go
October Nites, 4 p.m., today, The Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St., Syracuse
Cost: $8
All ages: Featuring October Nites, Road to Recovery, Sonic Kings, Fighting Wallace
For more information: visit www.myspace.com/octobernites
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 8 comment(s)
Naren wrote on Aug 31, 2009 2:44 PM:
And a heads up to Childofthekorn, thanks for the kudos, and I'm now the lead singer "
chriscalandro wrote on Aug 31, 2009 1:17 AM:
I no longer live in the community, and have gone off to to better and greater things. I frequently browse this site to get local news, which is then ruined by what is mostly ignorant and uneducated comments from the same people who make me glad i left this city. the following message is to the rest of you - go outside and find something else to do all day. "
aubnativ wrote on Aug 30, 2009 7:20 PM:
liberal karl wrote on Aug 30, 2009 7:05 PM:
'" Hey Naren, thanks for mentioning that you were my guitar student for over a year. Way to give credit, bud!""
This is what you do in a business built on references and referrals. "
childofthekorn1318 wrote on Aug 30, 2009 3:41 PM:
trunk186 wrote on Aug 30, 2009 1:15 PM:
aubnativ wrote on Aug 30, 2009 12:55 PM:
liberal karl wrote on Aug 30, 2009 6:41 AM: