Breaking From the Flock

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Over seven years ago a high school band called Wayside developed its first album. Talented seniors in the class of 2007 comprised Wayside, and used a home computer to throw together their CD.

Their working environment has since grown from cluttered household living rooms to professional recording studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The adept gosling, Wayside, spread its wings, soared, and developed into the band Goose.

The members of Goose have created their own sound they want to define the band, instead of trying to adhere to a certain genre. They tentatively call the style of their music “party folk.”

Austin Jewell, the lead vocalist for Goose, said, “I really can’t describe how we come up with our sound or why we like it. We just listen to as many different kinds of music as possible, and gather inspiration from everywhere.”

Their wide range of inspiration echoes in their music, and results in a unique sound Goose can call its own. This gives the band control and flexibility with their songs. People adore the “party folk” sound, as evident in their popularity and accomplishments.

Mr. Steve Aday, English teacher and long time friend of the band members, said, “We got to see how they developed their high school hobby into something really good. I’m always really impressed by their songwriting and blown away by their skill.”

The love from their fans motivates the members of the band Goose to achieve so much, including playing live on NPR radio, opening for the classic rock band Chicago at the 2014 Riverfest, and being named as high as No. 6 on iTunes’s Singer-Songwriter list in August of 2012.

Although their resume is already bold and impressive, the members of Goose still have big aspirations and look nowhere but up.   With all their success, it is difficult to believe how recently they walked these school halls and first came together as a band.

Not long before Wayside’s first album, the members hung out in their first ever jam session together. Kevin Jones, a young high school student who was born into a family of musicians, accepted an invitation to come play the drums with some fellow students.

Jones said, “I was expecting it to be pretty cool, you know with them already having drums for me to play there and everything.

“When I got there, I found a children’s toy drum set they wanted me to play.” Jones swallowed his pride and played on the drum set, and realized everyone there had a talent for music. It was the first time Wayside came together, and also the first musical encounter between Jones and Austin Jewell.

Jewell learned to play music in high school by surrounding himself with people who shared his love for music, such as Kevin Jones.

The two became a musical duo and began a friendship that would propel each other into a strong music career.

“We liked the same music and had the same determination to get better,” Jewell said. “There was always a lot of chemistry with our playing. We just clicked. I could always tell where he was going with his music and he could do the same with me.”

Jones and Jewell spent much of their time in high school developing their talents, but they mostly consumed their lives with the exploits of lively and involved seniors. Jones told of the rowdy times in high school.

“We loved skit cheerleading and making fun of teachers. We made the English teacher a Star Wars nerd and wrote funny songs about other teachers,” Jones said. “We were also in the play, and loved messing around with Garth Vader (Mr. Garth Hill) and Mrs. [Carrey] Reynolds.”

Will Rankin

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