Emerging Artists
Area band performs in NYC, records CD
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Jay Schultz Photos by Megan Loveless

The Wise and Kind Old Souls doesn't sound like the name of a band of 20-something men with guitars. Perhaps that's why they go by their acronym, the WAKOS.

The band's members hail from different areas of Western New York, with lead guitarist Chris Young being a Williamsville native and the grandson of Ed Young of Ed Young's Hardware in the village.

"A lot of our music is folk-inspired, and there's a jam-band aspect with blues elements and jazz," said Kevin Crowley, of Rochester.

Crowley, the band's lead singer and harmonica player, also plays guitar. Bass player Jay Schultz and drummer Mike Evangelista round out the WAKOS.

The band recently competed in the Emergenza Music Festival, a battle-of-the-bands-style competition that pits groups with original music against each other on the city, national and international level.

Bands play a 30-minute set and proceed through various elimination rounds, with the opportunity to play in major international venues.

Mike Evangelista

The audience selects the bands that proceed to the next round by an open vote. At the regional and national finals, a professional jury selects the winners and awards the best musicians.

The WAKOS won at the Buffalo level, beating more than 30 other bands and winning a trip to New York City to compete against other bands from around the country.

Coming in second at the national competition in New York City, the band has returned to Western New York and is currently working on a yet-untitled CD to be released in September.

"We have around 50 original songs," Young said. "It's been hard to choose just 13 or 14, but we're going to make other CDs."

The CD, which was recorded in Western New York, was sent to New York City for mastering and mixing. It will be on sale at music stores in this area and also at Ed Young's Hardware.

"Kevin and I made an acoustic CD last year, but this is the first one we've done with the whole group," Young said.

"So it feels like the first one," added Crowley.

The writing dynamic of the group is led by Crowley, with input from the rest of the band. The main chord structures and lyrics of the songs are engineered by Crowley; then the band comes together and adds other ideas.

Kevin Crowley

"I always say that Kevin draws the pictures, and we color it in," Young said.

Crowley noted that his writing inspiration comes from his real-life experiences, which tend to be universal in all human experiences.

"Isolation, alienation - they're all common things that people feel and go through, so singing the songs is sometimes cathartic," he said.

"That's why you write and play music," Young added. "It's the need to explain and express."

"There's a real lyrical element to what we do," Crowley continued. "Our music is more than a vehicle for the lyrics, because a lot of yourself goes into the lyrics."

Band members don't just collaborate on the writing of the songs; they also collaborate on the band's signature harmonies.

"Everybody in the band sings," Young said. "The music is fun, and we have fun when we play. Everybody contributes, so it's a good band to play with."

Chris Young

And the WAKOS are not without their fan base.

"We have a pretty good following in the area," Young said. "Our audiences have people who are 18 to people in their 60s."

"There's a lot of different people who appreciate our music," Crowley said. "Our goal is to have people get something from our music."

For more information on the WAKOS, to listen to their music or to learn about upcoming performances, visit the Web site www.myspace.com/wakos4.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com