ARE YOU SERIOUS?
THEY’RE NOT!
They
don’t look like rockers, but they don’t look like four
professors and the executive secretary of the student senate either.
If you close your eyes and listen to their music, you know that rock
‘n’ roll is definitely part of their DNA. The kind of
music that Phil ‘N’ the Blanks plays incorporates all
the hot trends of the last fifty years and is guaranteed to get your
toes tapping and your body, of whatever age, moving. Their personal
music influences range from ZZTop to Bob Dylan, from Cole Porter to
Incubus, from Neil Pert to Stevie Ray Vaughn and from the Stones to
the Eagles.
When Phil ‘N’
the Blanks got together in the spring of
2003 it began in the classic way. “We were a garage band for
a long while before fame and fortune arrived,” grins lead singer
Dr. William ‘Lonesome Bill’ Woods. Rhythm guitarist Dr.
Steve “The Politico of Political Science” Ellers laughs,
“The only real difference between us and other garage bands
was when our friends advised us to keep our day jobs, we were able
to say ‘What day jobs?’, since none of us consider teaching
a job—more like being paid to do what we love to do anyway.”
For some band members, music has always played
an important role in their lives. “People kid us about
holding on to our day jobs,” bass guitarist Dr. Gary
‘Sultan of Psych’ Biel smiles, “but I guess you
could say that I quit my day job in order to teach, because playing
in a band was my full-time career for 20 years before I went to grad
school.”
“We’re really fortunate,” cracks lead guitar player
James ‘Gatesville Jimmy’ Harris, “because we originally
came together just to have a little fun, and it has turned into something
that’s actually a lot of fun.”
Why would a group of professors want to form a rock
band in the first place? “Well, of course, they did it for
the chicks and the money,” drummer and student senate officer
Parker ‘Mighty, Mighty Parker’ Sands deadpans.
For a band that was momentarily cursed with the name “The Scantrons”
before settling on its current identity, it’s apparent that
The Blanks has been successful ever since, especially when it comes
to having fun.
“Making music with such gifted musicians as my band mates is
still a thrill, “Ellers smiles, as he looks around the room.
“This band is a great combination of skillful playing, inspired
singing, and high energy.”
As
word spreads about the high energy fun that Phil ‘N’ the
Blanks brings to any venue it plays, it is getting an increasing number
of calls to play for off-campus events.
“In a place like Kerrville,” Biel says proudly, “where
people can choose from a hundred great musicians and groups for their
event or party, it’s great to be getting calls for outside gigs.”
Asked whether they had ever heard people say that rocking the campus
the way they do is undignified for a group of academics, The Blanks
look, well, blank.
“Never heard of such a thing,” Ellers shakes his shaggy
head.
“Gosh,” says Woods, giving his best Alfalfa look, “maybe
we should tone it down a little fellers.”
“Yeah,” agrees Biel, “maybe we are having too much
fun. Maybe we should put a lid on it.”
The group does one long take, and then….“Naaahhhh!”
Front Cover