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The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Ghost Light hosts album release

    Sometimes it can be hard to determine what genre a band fits into, especially when the band is an infusion of rock, blues, soul, folk and even a pinch of country. Rising to the top of the local music scene in Hammond over the past year, Will Vance and the Kinfolk is a group of Southern gentlemen pursuing their passions making original music with a special Southern flair.
    On Saturday, May 10 Will Vance and the Kinfolk took over the Ghost Light venue at the Columbia Theatre for their official release party of their first album "Broken Promise Land." The four-night Ghost Light series took place on Thursdays throughout this semester, but the album release was the first time the Ghost Light hosted a concert on a Saturday night.
    "We originally wanted them to just be a part of our Ghost Light series," said Pete Pfeil, director for the Ghost Light venue. "They actually approached us to release their CD tonight. We normally do this on a Thursday night, so we accommodated them."
    Will Vance is the lead singer and plays guitar, John-Mark Gray plays lead guitar, Michael Gray plays bass and Garland Hoover plays drums and provides background vocals. The group came together to form Will Vance and the Kinfolk in August 2012 after their separate projects fell apart at the same time.
    In September 2013, Will Vance and the Kinfolk won KSLU's first Battle of the Bands competition, which helped the group spread their name throughout the area and book more shows.
    "It's one of those things where it's such a great title," said Vance. "We won the first one. Everything's done via e-mail nowadays, so when you send something off to book, you can put that on there. It helps to book in that way. It looks good on paper, I think."
    Will Vance and the Kinfolk have played shows in Hammond, New Orleans and Baton Rouge and in surrounding areas. In Lafayette, they performed in a line-up including the Family Reserve last year, and they asked the band to be their opening act at the album release.
    The Family Reserve fits into a similar southern rock and blues style, which amped up the audience with music that complimented Will Vance and the Kinfolk's sound. Jake Trowbridge, lead vocalist and guitarist for the Family Reserve says the chemistry between his band and Will Vance and the Kinfolk make for good times.
    "You find a lot of bands that fit musically and complement each other well, even if you're stylistically different," said Trowbridge. "It's tough to find another band that has guys who don't suck in it, and [Will Vance and the Kinfolk] are awesome. They're all pretty cool."
    Will Vance and the Kinfolk's first album "Broken Promise Land" features seven original songs by the band including "Wolves" and "Fool's Gold," which they performed at the release party.  
    "It's a soulful rock and roll, Southern hospitality-type," said Vance. "It's just good music. It tells a story, but it's got some rock and roll to it as well."
    "Broken Promise Land" became available for purchase Monday, May 12 through all major retail websites including iTunes, Google Play and all other music download sites. Physical copies of the album can be purchased at Hammond's last record store Music Express, as well as on cdbaby.com.
    Vance said the CD was funded by people attending their shows over the past year. He hopes that Will Vance and the Kinfolk will continue playing shows and making good music in the future.
     

     

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