Most high school bands form with some delusion of future grandeur, but not many manage to pull it off. Given the especially shaky origins of the alt-rock band Civil Twilight, the fact that they have done just that is all the more impressive.
When schoolmates Andrew McKellar (guitar) and Richard Wouters (drums) met in South Africa, both were 15 years old. Andrew’s younger brother, Steven McKellar, was 13.
At the time, none of them had more than passing familiarity with their instruments. Since no one else wanted the job, Steven McKellar was told he would be the band’s vocalist, and that was that, Wouters said.
They’ve since grown into their respective roles, but the journey has been an eventful one. “It’s the most trippy thing, looking back and seeing … all the twists and turns and stuff we’ve been through and where we’ve ended up,” Wouters said.
In 2005, members of the alt-rock trio took fate in their hands and migrated to Los Angeles. A few years later, they relocated to Nashville.
IF YOU GO* What: Nightfall concert series, featuring Civil Twilight.* When: 8 p.m. today; Moonlight Bride opens at 7.* Where: Miller Plaza, corner of M.L. King Boulevard, Cherry and Market streets.* Admission: Free.* Phone: 265-0771.* Venue website: www.nightfallchattanooga.com.* Related links at fyi.timesfreepress.com.
Thanks to their persistence, the bandmates have fulfilled many of the dreams they entertained on the other side of the Atlantic.
In addition to touring throughout the states, several of their songs have been featured in prime-time TV shows such as “One Tree Hill” and “House.” Their passionate, grandiose approach often draws comparisons to their early influence in groups such as Oasis, Coldplay and U2.
Today, Civil Twilight will take the stage at Miller Plaza for its inaugural Chattanooga concert as this week’s Nightfall headlining artist.
Considering its career is based on diving into untested waters, Civil Twilight has perpetually faced the possibility of failure. The musicians always pulled through, though, thanks in large part to their doggedly positive outlook (and perhaps a bit of naïveté), Wouters said.
“It sounds like we’re pretty confident, but I think we were … maybe in denial about a few things,” he said, laughing. “If we’d been told exactly how it would all work out when we first came over … it might have been a little bit daunting. We’ve just taken it one step at a time.”Online: Read a Q&A with Richard Wouters.
THE OPENER
Moonlight Bride is an FYI Award-winning alternative band based in Chattanooga. The quartet already has received attention from national outlets, including Paste Magazine and LA Record Magazine. For more information, see the band’s MySpace profile at www.myspace.com/moonlightbride.
CULTURE SHOCK
Here are some things that shocked Civil Twilight drummer Richard Wouters when he made the move from South Africa to America:
* Larger sizes for… everything, from cars to coffees.
* How endless the Los Angeles sprawl seemed, when viewed from the air.
* A lack of enthusiasm for rugby.
RELATED LINKS FOR WEB:
http://www.civiltwilightband.com
“It was like this hazy dream in this far-off world that you have no idea how you get there. You just head in the general direction and kind of hope stuff comes together.” – Richard Wouters, on Civil Twilight’s transition to America