For the Benefit of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno County
Friday, August 15th, 2008
McGraw's
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sponsors: 
I would bet that each of us has our own unique story to tell when it comes to the origin of the band. Mine begins long before most.
When Steve and I were in second grade, we began writing plays that we would perform during recess. Not that anyone much cared or noticed except for us. But this began our venture into the field of entertainment.
We shared a love for music at an early age. Teaching each other every tidbit we could pick out on the piano. Showcasing our "talents" during choir practice where Mrs. Hegge would allow us to play the piano in front of the class.
By fifth grade we had our first discussions about wanting to play in a band. I remember going through the yellow pages with Steve one Saturday afternoon and calling every music store in town and asking for prices on drum sets. Why the drums? I really don't know.
In seventh grade we met Darren Keller, who had just moved to the Buhler School District. He lived down the street from Steve, where they became friends. I really didn't know Darren very well, until Steve told me we had found the drummer for our band.
During the next couple of years, a few other developments took place. One, we named the band. (Keep in mind there really was no band yet at this time.) We had originally liked the name Orpheus, who was the Greek god of music. But there was already an Orpheus publishing company. So we went with Alpheus, the Greek god of a river. And two, we asked Scott DeVault to be our singer.
I say we, but I really don't remember doing much of this. If there was anyone who set the early wheels in motion of all of these things, it was Steve. I do know that by the end of our freshman year of high school, we had the name of our band, and a group of people who had no idea what they were doing.
But the event that probably triggered our musical journey more than any other was when Steve borrowed a guitar from the BHS music department for the summer before our sophomore year, and began teaching himself how to play.
At this point putting a band together actually started to look like a reality. And here I was, a founding member, who didn't really play anything yet. We had a drummer, a singer, and a guitarist. All that was left was bass guitar. So I went out and borrowed a bass and an amp and learned to play.
Well, kind of. You couldn't really call what were we doing as playing. In hindsight it's a pretty odd set of events that set me on a career path for the next 15 years.
Our first song? Dragon Attack by Queen. We performed this at the BHS Talent Show. Followed by a moment that Scott will never let us forget. The crowd wanted to hear another song. The only other song we even kind of knew was Highway to Hell by AC/DC. Steve started playing the opening guitar riff before Scott could stop him. Scott, you have my apologies.
Here was Scott. Young. Good looking. Charasmatic. A fine singer. But AC/DC was just a bad decision. I'm not sure that Scott ever lived down that performance. For those who were not there or have not heard Scott sing, let's just say that Scott's really not a screamer, and this was well out of his vocal range.
Deneen emailed me and reminded me of her memory of this show. The look of shock on the teachers' faces as we played Highway to Hell. Keeping in mind that we were attending high school in a nice little conservative community. I do remember the math teacher running around with a decibel meter shaking in his hands, covering his ears.
Soon after Paul Johnson came on as our keyboard player. And at one of our early rehearsals, James Perry brought another Buhlerite to our band practice. Randy "Zip" Zerger. Randy was a year older, and had already played guitar for several years. He was well ahead of us in ability at that point, and was a much needed boost for the band.
By the end of our sophomore year we played our first paying gig. The Burton High School Prom. We were incredibly bad, and we knew it. But we were not deterred. We were having too much fun.
Over the next year the band went through a few growing pains. Denise Beldon joined the band for a short time. Another vocalist Tammy B. (I can't even begin to remember how to spell Tammy's last name) joined the band. Paul and Tammy left the band. Eventually we settled into a lineup of Steve, Scott, Darren, Randy and myself.
Starting with our junior year and throughout our senior year we started picking up gigs on a pretty regular basis playing proms, homecomings, parties, and even a few bars.
Those three years cemented a bond between us that is as strong today as it was 20 years ago. And sparked a musical fire in us that still shines brightly.
--Lee
When Steve and I were in second grade, we began writing plays that we would perform during recess. Not that anyone much cared or noticed except for us. But this began our venture into the field of entertainment.
We shared a love for music at an early age. Teaching each other every tidbit we could pick out on the piano. Showcasing our "talents" during choir practice where Mrs. Hegge would allow us to play the piano in front of the class.
By fifth grade we had our first discussions about wanting to play in a band. I remember going through the yellow pages with Steve one Saturday afternoon and calling every music store in town and asking for prices on drum sets. Why the drums? I really don't know.
In seventh grade we met Darren Keller, who had just moved to the Buhler School District. He lived down the street from Steve, where they became friends. I really didn't know Darren very well, until Steve told me we had found the drummer for our band.
During the next couple of years, a few other developments took place. One, we named the band. (Keep in mind there really was no band yet at this time.) We had originally liked the name Orpheus, who was the Greek god of music. But there was already an Orpheus publishing company. So we went with Alpheus, the Greek god of a river. And two, we asked Scott DeVault to be our singer.
I say we, but I really don't remember doing much of this. If there was anyone who set the early wheels in motion of all of these things, it was Steve. I do know that by the end of our freshman year of high school, we had the name of our band, and a group of people who had no idea what they were doing.
But the event that probably triggered our musical journey more than any other was when Steve borrowed a guitar from the BHS music department for the summer before our sophomore year, and began teaching himself how to play.
At this point putting a band together actually started to look like a reality. And here I was, a founding member, who didn't really play anything yet. We had a drummer, a singer, and a guitarist. All that was left was bass guitar. So I went out and borrowed a bass and an amp and learned to play.
Well, kind of. You couldn't really call what were we doing as playing. In hindsight it's a pretty odd set of events that set me on a career path for the next 15 years.
Our first song? Dragon Attack by Queen. We performed this at the BHS Talent Show. Followed by a moment that Scott will never let us forget. The crowd wanted to hear another song. The only other song we even kind of knew was Highway to Hell by AC/DC. Steve started playing the opening guitar riff before Scott could stop him. Scott, you have my apologies.
Here was Scott. Young. Good looking. Charasmatic. A fine singer. But AC/DC was just a bad decision. I'm not sure that Scott ever lived down that performance. For those who were not there or have not heard Scott sing, let's just say that Scott's really not a screamer, and this was well out of his vocal range.
Deneen emailed me and reminded me of her memory of this show. The look of shock on the teachers' faces as we played Highway to Hell. Keeping in mind that we were attending high school in a nice little conservative community. I do remember the math teacher running around with a decibel meter shaking in his hands, covering his ears.
Soon after Paul Johnson came on as our keyboard player. And at one of our early rehearsals, James Perry brought another Buhlerite to our band practice. Randy "Zip" Zerger. Randy was a year older, and had already played guitar for several years. He was well ahead of us in ability at that point, and was a much needed boost for the band.
By the end of our sophomore year we played our first paying gig. The Burton High School Prom. We were incredibly bad, and we knew it. But we were not deterred. We were having too much fun.
Over the next year the band went through a few growing pains. Denise Beldon joined the band for a short time. Another vocalist Tammy B. (I can't even begin to remember how to spell Tammy's last name) joined the band. Paul and Tammy left the band. Eventually we settled into a lineup of Steve, Scott, Darren, Randy and myself.
Starting with our junior year and throughout our senior year we started picking up gigs on a pretty regular basis playing proms, homecomings, parties, and even a few bars.
Those three years cemented a bond between us that is as strong today as it was 20 years ago. And sparked a musical fire in us that still shines brightly.
--Lee
For the Benefit of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County
Saturday, September 13th, 2008
Abe & Jake's
Lawrence, Kansas
Sponsors: 
