Aeges brings hard-driving rock 'n' roll to Track 29

Band opening Wednesday for Chevelle

Aeges features Tony Baumeister, Kemble Walters, Mike Land and Cory Clark. They will open for Chevelle Wednesday at Track 29.
Aeges features Tony Baumeister, Kemble Walters, Mike Land and Cory Clark. They will open for Chevelle Wednesday at Track 29.

For any band, staying true to itself can be a tricky thing. It's important to grow and develop, but there is a line between not duplicating yourself and straying too far from the original mission. It can get even more tricky if the individual members start listening to outside influences like record-label people or friends, fans and spouses.

"It's easy for a band to lose their way if they stop listening to their internal voices," says Aeges frontman Kemble Walters.

"You have to focus on each other and listen to your gut."

If you go

› What: Chevelle with Aeges and Dinosaur Pile Up› When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3› Where: Track 29, 1400 Market St.› Admission: $29 in advance, $32 day of› Phone: 423-521-2929

Walters, along with Tony Baumeister, Cory Clark and Mike Land, will be opening for Chevelle Wednesday night, May 3, at Track 29. He says the four know and trust each other when it comes to the band and its music, but he also has no problem taking charge.

"I'm kind of the guy in charge of all aspects of the band. I'm the guy who cracks the whip. I micro-manage. I can't help it. I even manage our manager."

Aeges plays hard-driving rock 'n' roll based on pounding rhythms, heavy guitars and harmonies. Walters says that while the band hasn't had the kind of huge success that can cause even further distractions, he is happy with the way the group's sound continues to evolve.

"We try to keep our sound cohesive, but we don't want to write the same record each time."

That can be tricky for fans who might like a particular song or record or sound.

"There are so many variables that can change your sound. Fans will say, 'Wow, you guys changed a little bit.' Well, we grew in the last year. We didn't go to the same bar or we're not with the same girlfriend. It can be all about environment. Different studios or producers or no producers. It's crazy the things that impact what you write."

One of the things that helps color the way Walters's sees the world around him is the fact that he lived in Indonesia from age 2 to the end of high school, and was the drummer in a "street punk" band there called FlipOut.

The group achieved local fame, playing festivals and appearing on Indonesian MTV.

"I saw a lot of weird things."

Next up for Aeges, he says, is new record "that will be even more grandiose and big."

"We've already got like 60 demos."

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6354.

Upcoming Events