Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Aggielife

Media Credit: File - The Battalion [Click to enlarge]

The Flyers are a band that don't like to do things in a conventional manner. From its indie-rock sound to its use of varied and often random instruments, The Flyers are making an impression on the local music scene.

When lead vocalist-guitarist-cellist-trumpeter, Bob Turek, a senior environmental design major, came to A&M, he opted for the potluck option when it came time to pick a roommate. Little did he know that Carlos Mendoza, a senior computer engineering major would later play violin and guitar for the band. The two shared an interest in writing and performing music and decided to form a band.

They enlisted the help of fellow dormmate Seth Brunner and began their foray into the local music scene. Keaton Tucker, a senior computer engineering major and bass player for the band, was playing with another band at the time. As a friend of the newly formed trio, he allowed them to use his garage to practice. It was only a matter of time before he would throw in his lot with Turek's troupe. The final addition to the band was Whitney Smith, who played one show and was thence committed as a permanent member.

With the lineup firmly established, the group made their way around the local venue circuit.

"We began as just your regular rock ensemble," Turek said. "As we added people and influences, we just kind of drifted away from that and decided to do something different. We also just started gelling a lot better after we had been playing together for a bit. We got to know each other better musically."

From there, the band developed a style they described as "indie-folk-rock-disco." This rather oxymoronic label is enlivened by the diverse influences going into the music.

"As a band, we have a lot of different influences," Turek said. "I have a lot of indie in my background, while Carlos comes from mainly a classic rock background, and Seth is heavily influenced by jazz styling, so the result is very unique."

The band also prides itself on putting on a very unique live show and is unafraid to err on the side of humorous.

"We do a lot of different things," Turek said. "One time we all showed up in random dollar store costumes for a show - Whitney was a bearded man, Carlos was an angel, Seth was a wizard, Keaton was a cowboy and I was a sailor ­- it was a lot of fun. Plus, we like to switch around on instruments between songs. So each song we are all playing something different."

If you're interested in finding out more about the band, check out their myspace page at www.myspace.com/theflyersinside.

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