It may be fate that a poolside joke with a friend about a loquacious grandfather turned into a band name six months later.
And perhaps it was still divine planning that brought five wayward men at UT together at an old white house in the Fort.
Now, after numerous nights spent hanging out at Preservation Pub in Market Square, the band is now playing with The Black Cadillacs and the Delta Saints in the same area on Saturday for Oktoberfest, the official afterparty of The 16th Annual Knoxville Brewers Jam.
At least that’s what Niles Haury, bassist and founding member of Grandpa’s Stash, thinks.
“I never believed in serendipity, but that’s what it was. There’s no other way to put it at this point,” Haury said.
Around 2005, destiny assembled five other members: Scott Faw on vocals, Kyle Reynolds on sax, John Colquitt on trombone, Nathan Gilleran on drums and Andrew Sayne on guitar.
Haury, Renalds and Colquitt are original members of the band, which formed about 8 years ago. Despite some break-ups, Haury still attributes several events to divine timing. He didn’t finish school, but the self-proclaimed dream chaser doesn’t see that as a detriment. Instead, it was all a part of a larger plan.
“I was a number cruncher nerd kid from Nashville. I never picked up a bass until college,” he said.
Haury said he was waiting on a certain fervor for music that he hadn’t experienced until he started playing with the band. And since then, the six have been playing together at various Knoxville venues and house parties.
“Someone told me (to) never chase two rabbits because you’ll never catch one. Everyone in this band is a passionate person and I was looking for a fire,” Haury said.
Colquitt, UT class of 2009, was not a stranger to music. Since elementary school, Colquitt played the trombone and often performed on stage for school plays and performances.
But regardless of the serendipitous nature of the band’s formation, the Chattanooga native said that there were some problems that arose during the time the band has played together.
“In this particular band, (the challenge is) just trying to keep moving forward. It’s been different things with us. (It’s) just been a challenge of being able to get together and be able to do our own thing,” Colquitt said.
Every fight, failure and unexpected hole in some arbitrary wall are all a part of a grander scheme, said Haury. To him, the band is working on divine timing, even their new album, which will be released Nov. 23. Without all the setbacks, the band wouldn’t have the same type of passion needed for success.
He compared the band to Knoxville, a city of losses and gains, but a city nevertheless still holding on to a unique and quirky charm.
“We’re a scruffy band and I think Knoxville is a scruffy city. I like being lofty and I like looking into the future. It’s fun,” Haury said.
Grandpa’s Stash, The Black Cadillacs and the Delta Saints start jamming in Market Square at 6 p.m this Saturday. The event is free and open to all ages.
