eyes on the prize
eyes on the prize
Genres: rock
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Devil's Highway
About eyes on the prize
"Eyes on the Prize They're just like your high school jam band…except they're actually talented. Nestled in the South Jersey suburb of Sewell lives a group of your average American boys. Some of them are equipped with side swept bangs, and all of them sport-fitted jeans and tee shirts. They address each other as "dude" and discuss girls and video games. They joke around talking in a pseudo Bill Cosby voice and take Kit Kat Breaks. They're easily distracted by a Stone Cold Steve Austin plaque and the fact that the playing card isn't in it anymore. However, when they pick up their instruments, the group dynamic changes. The current band members include Patrick McCue (18, lead singer and guitar), Karl Swanson (18, guitar), Kyle McCloskey (18, bass), Kevin Ferry (20, drums) and recently acquired Dean Marchese (19, guitar and back up vocals). Most of the members were originally involved in a different band during their early music career and came together during high school. They started out as The Atlantic, but had to change their name after a band from New Jersey called New Atlantic got signed. Being left with the opportunity to change their name, they considered a couple of names and settled with a name that explains exactly what they're doing- keeping their Eyes on the Prize. Despite most of the members being 18, these boys are seasoned musicians. They grew up in South Jersey in a typical suburb. Miles of ranch houses with several strip malls and big chain retailers within a ten minute drive. All of the members have been playing music since middle school, and some even before that. "We've always been involved in music," says Patrick while leaning over relaxed in his chair. "Some of us were in chorus, and some of us were in our school's band. I've been singing since I was in the 5th grade." Two members share the same motive for playing music. "I started on the guitar because I wanted to be a rock star," jokes Karl while he peeks his eyes out from his heavy bangs. Dean had a similar reason. "I started playing the guitar because I wanted to pick up girls." While they joke about the reason they started, these boys are passionate about their music, and it shows when they play during practice. There is no fumbling around on the fret board like you would expect from a beginning guitarist. Even on their down time, a random song like "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit is played with precision. Their drummer Kevin also adds his own talent to the band. His drumbeats are clean and executed perfectly. Bass player Kyle makes his instrument look easy to play. Patrick's voice is a powerhouse, and frequently overpowers the instruments. Before a show, the boys have a steady routine- gas, Wawa and getting lost. Their first show (9th grade) was full of the normal pre-show jitters. They were nervous, which is expected for any band that just starting out. There was no moving around onstage, but over time they got more comfortable. Even during their practice, Patrick is constantly moving away from the group than moving back to add his vocals to the song. Kyle, Karl and Dean shift their weight around due to limited space in the basement they practice in. Kevin takes full advantage of the space he has in the corner, and almost looks like he might knock out the wall behind him when he's drumming. The boys have played with bands like Scary Kids Scaring Kids, The Audition, and Bayside. They also obtained a spot that millions of bands would kill for- a set at Warped Tour. "Warped Tour was the top experience for us all. When we found out [we were playing] we were all pretty much giddy little girls. Being on stage with around 500-700 people watching you is an excessively ingratiating feeling." Besides their talent, there was one factor that helped them to get noticed and make their way to Warped Tour- their fans'. While facing the other members looking for agreement, Patrick adds, "The fans' have been our biggest supporter, especially our street team in Florida," states Patrick. Their fans' have compared them to bands like Taking Back Sunday and Circa Survive. They realize the importance of their fans', and welcome anyone that enjoys their music, even the teeny boppers. "If anyone comes to our show and supports what we do, even the younger group of girls, then we are happy to accept them. They're what keeps the scene going." Their fans' have always given them positive feedback, whether it is at shows or left as comments on their MySpace. All of their fans' opinions are taken into consideration. Constructive criticism is accepted, although it's hard to believe that their fans' would give them anything except praise. But what about the fans' that call them an emo band? In today's alternative music scene, the label of "emo" is used frequently by fans' of this type of music, and is now used to describe a certain type of person. The "emo" kid usually wears tight pants, band tee shirts and black rimmed glasses. It's the type of label that is used when a fan is too lazy to come up with anything better. It originated in Washington D.C. around 1985 with the band Rites of Spring. "Emo has a negative connotation and is applied to a wide variety of modern music, when in reality emo and screamo died out in the early nineties. There are a few bands in modern revival that I respect immensely, like Circle Takes the Square, Orchid, Pg. 99, etc. If we were labeled with this genre appropriately I'd be stoked, but we are far from emo, even second generation emo," says Karl. Just because a band's lyrics are emotionally driven, that doesn't define them as an emo band. Eyes on the Prize are more concerned with the melody and the composition than they are with their lyrics. Most emo bands focus on catchy hooks while their composition lacks. The public needs to take the time to correctly label a band and stop defining them by a generic mass media label. With their stance on the emo scene and the bands that influenced the scene, they are also aware of the local bands that made it big. When asked which of the following three bands from the area- Taking Back Sunday, Thursday and Brand New is the best icon for the alternative music scene, they couldn't pinpoint one band. "We all agree that all of these bands have influences different from each other. While Taking Back Sunday reached a more mainstream approach, Thursday has influenced many post-hardcore musicians, and Brand New tends to be more of an influence to a pop-indie sensibility." Karl knows what he's talking about; the local scene bands have sold millions of copies world wide and have made it easier for bands of the same genre to make it big. They have brought alternative music to the fore front of rock music and made a living doing what they love. Two of these bands that have influenced Eyes on the Prize, like Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon and Thursday's Full Collapse are in their IPod on heavy rotation. Eyes on the Prize are a band you should know about. They know the image they want to portray and have a passion that is undeniable throughout their music. They are accessible to their fans, a quality many bands lack. Most importantly, they really are a great group of guys that you would love to hang out with."
Taken from Last.fm
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