Slow Down Scarlett

Occasionally I come across a band that grabs my attention on the first listen. But not often.

“Slow Down Scarlett” did that to me today. I popped in the demo disk that Courtney and Danny gave to me for the ride home from our interview. I noticed that each of the five songs was different from the others. Five songs and I was hooked.

“Slow Down Scarlett” has been described as a “five-piece, Metro-east, indie-rock band.” Dylan Tucker, lead guitarist for the group, described their sound as “jambalaya rock,” meaning a lot of different types of sounds coming together. Goofy musical escapades, a bit of Latin spice, a serious observation about mankind’s depravity… and so on. I don’t care how they’re classified as long as I like the message and how it makes me feel.

Danny Walls, drummer, told me “All people can relate to our music… we write about life experiences… often funny… such as a song about roller derby… sometimes serious… like ‘Dead Man Walking’, a song that speaks about the depravity of mankind…”

The five band members met at their church, First Baptist of O’Fallon, where Walls has been a youth pastor for 10 years. Not only do they attend the same church, but they share military backgrounds as well.

“We like playing music together at church so much that we started performing as a cover band around town,” said Walls.

The Members

Courtney King, a graduate student at SIUE, toured with the U.S. Air Force Band, and other armed service entities, as a flutist. She gave up her music career in 2007, thinking that there was no way to pursue it while raising children.

Since then her three children have picked up the violin, and her husband is a professional trumpet player. Needless to say, getting back into performing was inevitable. No need to fight that, right?

King has the ability to go from flute to vocals seamlessly, adding her own touch as she glides into some sultry rock. She beautifully yet forcefully demonstrated that in the last track of their demo. Someone described her performance as “rock flute.” (King presents some of her unusual techniques on YouTube. Check it out.)

“We write and sing about acceptance, seeking love, finding heartache, and forgiveness,” said King.

Dylan Tucker, lead guitarist, is a creative force who plays multiple instruments.

“He’s outside the box,” said Walls. When he’s not making music, Tucker works as a wedding videographer, photographer, and a web designer.

Walls is the drummer. He began his music career as a young tyke tackling the tuba and then bass guitar.

“I didn’t play drums until I was 20,” he said.

Walls also manages the group’s tour schedule. “Before we realized it, we were writing songs, getting asked to perform,” he said.

Andy Lewis, a high school history teacher and football coach, sings and plays guitar. Lewis has sung all of his life and writes poignant lyrics with a blues-driven overtone that compliments the classic/alternate rock sound. Additionally, he writes more about faith, to which the group members aspire.

Dan Kaltenbaugh, a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army, plays bass guitar. He owns Dijatek, a website development company. His background allows Kaltenbaugh to market and organize the music as a business.

With such varied backgrounds and talents galore, these five Believers produce sounds that are atypical for a band that has its roots in a church. Certainly not stuffy or predictable, their appeal is across the board. I like that.



- See more at: http://straightupmagazine.net/2015/03/touched-angels-slow-scarlett/#sthash.5LizErTq.dpuf - STR8UP Magazine

http://issuu.com/edwpub/docs/022615_edge/9?e=1365856/11594718 - On The Edge