New band redefines white-collar professionals
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UPCOMING SHOWS FOR COASTAL BEND
WHEN: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Oct. 15
WHERE: Victoria Country Club
WHEN: Oct. 30
WHERE: Victoria Fine Arts League gala, Club Westerner, 1005 W. Constitution St.
More information
To learn more about Coastal Bend ...
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UPCOMING SHOWS FOR COASTAL BEND
WHEN: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Oct. 15
WHERE: Victoria Country Club
WHEN: Oct. 30
WHERE: Victoria Fine Arts League gala, Club Westerner, 1005 W. Constitution St.
More information
To learn more about Coastal Bend or to purchase their CD, go to www.coastalbendsongs.com.
Close your eyes. Go ahead, close them.
Now picture your boss, or perhaps your former college professor, in that suit and tie they always wear and walking through the halls in that utmost professional manner they have.
Now picture them rocking out onstage with their band.
It's hard, isn't it? But for new Victoria band Coastal Bend, it's a reality. Composed of a university president, a geologist, a college dean, a company vice president and a teacher, the band is proving that just because you have a high-profile day job doesn't mean you can't be creative.
Coastal Bend is the brainchild of University of Houston-Victoria president Tim Hudson. To commemorate the 2003 tragedy where 19 immigrants died in Victoria, Hudson wrote an original song called "Souls of Victoria."
Needing to find other musicians to help him record the song, he eventually assembled the team of Dan Easton, vice president of the Victoria Advocate; Jeffrey Di Leo, UHV Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences; Matt Wickham, an environmental consultant; and Angie Caraway, a music and art teacher.
"It took me awhile to find musicians who were willing and able to work on this project, and it was great to discover these guys, who are all so talented," Hudson said.
The band eventually went on to record a video for "Souls of Victoria" and then went into local recording studio Blue Armadillo to record more of Hudson's original music, which was turned into a CD. Soon after, Coastal Bend made its public debut at their CD launch party.
"We do get some stunned looks. I even had someone say when they found out, 'But I've never even seen you without a suit on,'" Hudson said about their first live performance. "But the good news is that so far, once the shock is over, people discover that the music is good."
Band members say they have received a lot of support from their family and friends, as well as from the public.
"The public has been overwhelmingly supportive, excited, amazed and complimentary. We have groupies!" Caraway said.
Although their music doesn't fit into one particular genre, with Wickham summing it up as Americana, Coastal Bend's songs focus mostly on regional themes.
"Tim has written some pretty catchy tunes. I especially like that many of them deal with local issues, things that South Texans know something about," Di Leo said. "It's fun to see people from the community - let alone my kids - sing along with the songs we play. He is a talented songwriter."
What started out as side project has grown into full-blown hobby for the five band members.
With such a positive response from the community and with Hudson hitting his stride as a songwriter, the band has booked more gigs and plans to record a second and possibly even third album.
Easton said he thought playing bass on a demo CD would be a chance to "goof around in a studio."
"Somehow, it evolved to releasing a CD, a video, getting four gigs booked and having another CD on the way," he said. "I'm not sure exactly how that happened."
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I don't see anyone else stepping up to give respect to that tragic event. Yes, the video was less than perfect, but I still enjoyed it. It gave us a different view on the tragedy. It showed us that those people were humans, with families and dreams. Thank you for that and please don't stop making music.
October 6, 2009 at 3:15 p.m.They can't sing, the lyrics are bad, the video was worse, really? This is what Victoria thinks is good music? Geez no wonder there are no GOOD live venues here.
October 6, 2009 at 2:24 p.m.I like this story because it shows that people do care about what happened that tragic day. Sometimes its hard to see when you read so much negative,on the VA blogs.
October 6, 2009 at 2:12 p.m.Awesome songwriting!
October 6, 2009 at 9:59 a.m.I drove past that rig on that morning and thought it odd that it was parked where it was. The hazard flashers were on. If I had been less apathetic, maybe 19 people would still be alive. Later that day as I returned home, I realized something bad had happened. The tractor-cab was gone and deputies were milling about.
Your song has a deep piognant meaning to me. But, my own feelings aside, it shows the proper side we should view this tragedy from. You are definatly a band this community needs today. Please keep making music!