A local band consisting of one Nicholls student and three Houma natives will perform at The Foundry on Saturday with anticipation of the release of their long play album later this summer.
Drummer Zachary Blum, marketing junior from Houma, vocalist Gabriel Delaney and guitarists Ethan Belanger and Matthew Meche are collectively known as The Autopilots.
Since each member attends a different university, their fan base extends to cities such as Houma, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The group said a good percentage of their fan base consists of Nicholls students because they are from the area. Meche estimates about 20 to 25 percent of the group’s fans attend the University. However, Delaney said that their audience is constantly reaching unexpected territories through social media outlets.
“We have been content with being a hometown band and love our fans and friends in the Houma-Thibodaux area,” Delaney said. “We recently found out that a great number of our YouTube fans are located in Germany, which is a kind of strange thing given that the furthest we have traveled as a band is probably Lafayette.”
The Autopilots have performed at venues such as The Brick House, The City Club and Mike’s Steakhouse in Houma and The House of Blues in New Orleans, where they opened for the band 100 Monkeys, a group of actors and movie producers including The Twilight Saga’s Jackson Rathbone.
The band was formed in 2009 when a few of the band members began writing songs in Baton Rouge. Blum said he was added to the band later on.
“Ethan, Gabe, and Matt all lived in Baton Rouge, and they started jamming and writing songs,” Blum said. “Before you know it, they called me up to play drums, and we had our band. It didn’t take me long to realize that what we had was special. It wasn’t like anything I was a part of before.”
Delaney added, “We got started our first semester of college at a party of a mutual friend. At some point during the night, a drunken ‘Kum-Ba-Yah’ type guitar circle was formed, and I started singing this Goo Goo Dolls song that Ethan was strumming. We had all been friends in high school but never collectively jammed together before. After the song, Ethan just looked at me and said, ‘Where the hell did that voice come from?’ The band was formed the next day, and the rest is soon-to-be rock history.”
The band’s upcoming LP, which is set to be released later this summer, is still in the process of being completed, but the band plans on releasing two radio singles and a free extended play album for fans to enjoy while they wait for the LP’s release.
Meche said that fans can expect a “good time along with good friends and good music” during their performance this Saturday.
Belanger said that the audience can expect a more polished and professional image of the band through this performance.
“With the release of these new songs, we are really looking to make some noise, and we are going about that in the most professional way possible,” Belanger said.
Blum added that the audience can expect “a great show with a lot of emotion behind it. They will be able to dance, head bang, and do whatever else they feel like doing.”
Other than the band’s upcoming performance at the Foundry, The Autopilots are putting their focus toward recording and making sure their fans get a quality LP this summer.
The Autopilots will be performing at The Foundry on the Bayou in downtown Thibodaux this Saturday at 10 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door.
Q: How did you each get started with music?
Blum: My older brother gave me a drum kit when I was about seven. Ethan and I were neighbors, so I told him to learn how to play bass so we could jam. It’s all been up hill from there.
Belanger: Personally, I started playing music with Zack when I was about 13, so like nine years ago. I taught myself to play the music that I liked, which was older or classic rock. I seemed to catch on pretty fast, so I just stuck with it.
Delaney: I got started pretty early with music. My stepfather growing up played guitar and played bass in a cover band in the Los Angeles area. He bought me my first bass when I was six and instilled a passion in me for making rock n’ roll racket.
Meche: Zach taught me how to play guitar and drums in 7th grade, and since then I’ve been playing any type of instrument I can get my hands on.
Q:How hard is it to juggle both music and school work?
Blum: It’s pretty difficult. I also have a day job, and it’s hard to manage all 3 things. It is worth it though. I believe staying busy is the key to happiness.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Blum: Married, kids and rocking out with The Autopilots.
Meche: Hopefully still playing music, but if not, I want to be doing music recording and producing work.
Delaney: In ten years I’d love to maybe have a house in Houma, white picket fence, married with 2.5 kids. You know, that old American dream. And to still be playing rock n’ roll with my three best friends.
Meche: That’s a tough question. I’d say that I see myself in the music industry one way or another. (Obviously, I hope it is with this band.)
Q: Who are some of your musical influences?
Blum: Dave Grohl, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and Jack White are just some. Did I mention Dave Grohl?
Meche: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Foo Fighters, Joe and David Stark.
Q: What is your favorite song on the LP and why?
Blum: Oh man, I probably have about four or five favorites on there, but one that really sticks out for me is the song “El Rio.” It’s got a really dark and creepy mood to it. It sort of hypnotizes you. You can’t help but keep listening to it. The lyrics take you on a journey, and you can’t help but put yourself in the environment that Gabe created. It’s very fun to play, and it definitely grabs you by the balls.
