The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, March 15, 2001
Music
Section B • Page 3
Local band has lofty goals
Six Year Sophomore striving to tap potential
kansan.com &
By Cal Creek
joyplay@kansan.com
jayplay writer
In a crowded room behind a fraternity house, four KU students make music together.
Besides brief discussions about improvements to the songs and what song to play, no words are spoken. Each member looks from one to the other, communicating in an unspoken language. They tell their bandmates when the break is coming, when the solo is coming, if they didn't like something, and still no words are spoken.
The fraternity house is Theta Chi, the students are Kyle Burnett, Stillwater, Okla., junior, on drums; Shaun Fortuna, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, lead singer and guitarist; Mike Combs. Stillwell sophomore, providing back up vocals and playing bass; and Drew Voegele, Overland Park sophomore, on guitar.
The music is a mix between punk and pop rock, played by the band Six Year Sophomore.
The band formed on April 20 of last year. An '80s cover band gone wrong was a driving force behind the band's first performance when they played live on KJHK last July.
"It's been interesting seeing where our sound goes from August." Fortuna said.
The sound of Six Year Sophomore has gone many places from various open-mike nights to solid gigs. The band's exposure is growing, but their goals are lofty.
Burnett said the band was looking to send their work to independent labels.
The band's manager, Rob Hayes, said 105.9 The Lazer's local music show consistently played the band
"The members of the band have different goals in mind. "We have an unreal amount of potential," Combs said. "We're trying to tap it."
"We've cut a primitive demo, but we need to go back and make some changes," he said.
"Local bands want to play around the local scene, but we all have stars in our eyes," Fortuna said. "We want to get out of Lawrence and get out of Kansas."
"People just don't put a lot of thought into it," he said.
"They do it to get chicks."
or get out of Lawrence and get out of Kansas.
Voegle said he just didn't like local music.
While the band looks to the future, all of the members think they have yet to write their best song. Although Fortuna and Burnett do most of the songwriting, the duo is open to suggestions.
"Someone will come up with a cool baseline or something and we all just play off each other," Burnett said. Edited by Meagan Philes
Other plans include a possible mini-tour this summer, more digs in Lawrence and a work-in-progress Web site
"We are not concerned with a certain sound," Fortuna said. "The (demo) has a lot of different harder rock, but it all goes together."
Six Year Sophomore's Shaun Fortuna, left, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, plays lead guitar while Mike Combs, Stilwell sophomore, sings a Beatsie Boys cover. The band is hoping to expand its base outside Lawrence. Photo by Eric M. Hedlerin/KANSAN
at www.sixyearsophomore.com.
The group said they were influenced by many different bands. Combs' main influence is Ultimate Fakebook while Smashing Pumpkins is Burnett's band of choice. Voegele is a fan of Metallica and KISS, and Fortuna loves the Cars, Ultimate Fakebook, Nirvana and Weezer.
— Edited by Megan Phelps
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