The Reporter

McKnight's review of Stetson football Sports, page 5 Vol. CXXI Issue 11 'SSS THE EPORTER Stetson University | DeLand, Fla. Photo courtesy: gohatters.com Sounds Of Roadkill What's in this issue Ghost Choir Sam Votaw Staff Writer If the city of DeLand were to ever have a definitive soundtrack, its very own Roadkill Ghost Choir would be the leading candidate. With a diverse sound that can best be described as southern-tinged, haunting Americana folk-rock, these young men showcases musical dexterity and lyrical maturity far beyond their years. The band saw its humble beginnings in 2010 when singer/guitarist Andrew Shepard envisioned a fuller sound for his solo performances. Joining forces with his brothers Zach and Max (who play bass and drums, respectively) along with multi-instrumentalists Kiffy Meyers, Joey Davoli and lead guitarist Stephen Garza, one of the most unique six pieces to ever call the state of Florida home was formed. Starting off playing downtown venues such as Cafe Da Vinci and The Artisan, they earned quite a reputation from local music fans. "They're the best band here, (in Deland]" says Groovy Records owner and musician Jeny Schafer. "[Andrew's] got such a great voice and the band just rips. You can tell when a band truly has something and they are one of them." RKGC isn't just a hometown secret, however. Their self-released 2012 debut EP. "Quiet Light" has received exposure and reviews from numerous blogs and publications, with Blurt Magazine assigning the six song collection "four out of five stars" and admiring the group's ability to "shimmer as much with sorrow as it does with hope and happiness." This has the band feeling optimistic about their future. "I feel like we were lucky with the record honestly," Shepard said. "It's rare that a debut release can garner any attention at all, especially now with the current state of music. There is so much music coming out now that it's hard to find an audience for your own." Riding such warm reception, the band has been gradually making a name for themselves on the touring circuit over the last several months; highlights include opening up for folk superstars Band of Horses, as well as performing at high profile festivals such as Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo and South By Southwest. For a band that says they'd love to tour with Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen or Wilco, it doesn't seem like too far-fetched of an idea Despite gracing such large stomping grounds, the group takes pride in intimate, small-room perfor- "My favorite show in recent memory was at The Earl in Atlanta, Ga... The energy in the room was incredible. It doesn't matter how good you play, if the audience isn't there with you, the performance will reflect that," Shepard said. Playing to new audiences almost every night the interest to a debut full length album from the group is plentiful. Having spent all of November demoing songs for their debut full-length album at North Avenue studios in Deland, the band is eagerly awaiting the first day of recording and tracking. What will the record sound like? Shepard simply hints the band will sound bigger than ever before. "The new stuff has a lot more space to them," he said. "Lots [sic] of room for texture and ambience. We're excited about it." With a new album scheduled for release in April of next year, will the new stars of the indie rock world put DeLand on the map as breeding grounds for more great music? "I believe Deland could have a great and thriving music scene if it was set up for such a thing," Shepard explained. "Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of venues that really care about the music to inspire something positive. With that being said, we don't play in DeLand very often, which is a bummer for us, but who knows what the future holds." The Roadkill Ghost Choir is truly the biggest hidden gem of DeLand's quiet music scene. With gripping live performances and a stunning first record, the band has quickly achieved a level of success that many bands take years to reach. While it seems unlikely one will see them again at Da Vinci in the near future, the swirling aura around Roadkill Ghost Choir has music fans everywhere paying attention. Local band releases debut album A S E, page 4 MLK Commemoration Week starts next Monday Back, page 6