Local progressive rock band Cerulia will be playing Longbranch Saloon on the Strip with Such Gold and On My Honor this Friday starting at 8 p.m.
Not only is the band local, but guitarist and vocalist Kuyper Cummings is a senior in music at UT.
“I would definitely say that it is hard to maintain a balance between school and band,” Cummings said. “Every one of (the band members) are music majors so it also becomes difficult to split up practice times between different musical materials. However, we always make sure to encourage each other about putting school assignments ahead of things like band practice, and also try to schedule shows around our academic calendars. That might sound weird to some, but being successful is very important to us. If we can’t succeed in other areas of our lives we don’t see how we can be successful in our musical endeavors.”
As a product of the University of Tennessee’s school of music, Asher Coker, senior in music and drummer for Cerulia, has used his classes to help hone his skills.
“I’m a jazz major, so it has helped tremendously with playing well with others, listening, writing, literally every aspect of music,” Coker said. “I don’t think I’m a great jazz musician by any means, but what I’ve learned through the jazz program has made me much stronger in all other aspects of my playing.”
Cerulia is fairly new to the music scene, having only recorded their first tracks in January, and is currently working on releasing four EPs.
Although the band is described as being progressive rock, members confess that they don’t want to put the band into any single category.
“Right now we are in the process of releasing four EPs, all of which will be a slightly different genre of music,” Cummings said. “We are bluesy metal with classically influenced jazzy riffs that can break off into eerie passages more similar to Radiohead at times.”
Some of the biggest influences to the band’s music comes from a list of notable artists including Brian May from Queen.
“He is an incredibly underrated guitarist,” Cummings said. “Some more major influences on my playing style are Mike Einziger of Incubus, Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams of Every Time I Die, Casey Crescenzo of The Deer Hunter, and Joe Pass.”
Even though the band is fairly new on the music scene, they have already played several local shows.
One of the most memorable shows in the lifespan of the band came during Cerulia’s first performance, which was at the Birdhouse.
“There was no air conditioning near the stage, the PA was not working properly, and there wasn’t enough room at times, but the music fans that go to shows there make the Birdhouse a killer venue,” said Cummings. “The people that came out to that show brought out our absolute best on stage.”
Both Coker and Cummings are excited about the show and look forward to support from their fellow students on the band’s return to Longbranch. The band plans on bringing a lot of energy on Friday night.
“We love receiving gifts in the form of Taco Bell,” Cummings said. “Also, we travel via lightening storm so get ready when you hear the thunder!”
