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11/08/2009
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Photo by Jeff Poulandfrom the Kennebec Journal
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The youth, who attend Skowhegan Area High School and performed at the Norridgewock Grange recently, formed their band Fate four years ago. They play a variety of rock, alternative, punk and classics at local events and fundraisers. And, their music is their language.
"It's sort of like, if you're happy, you'll hear it in the music," said Connor Reeves, 16, of Skowhegan, who sings lead and plays bass, guitar, ukulele and keyboard. "If you're upset or angry, that comes through, too. So, if I'm feeling angry, or I'm feeling sad, and I don't want to say it, I just go and play."
The band first formed in middle school when a science teacher asked some of the members to play in the school's talent show. With Izaak Lachapelle, 16, of Norridgewock, on drums; Lucas Fortier, 16, of Skowhegan, on guitar; and Reeves on bass, they performed "Holiday" by Green Day.
Now, they open with it every time they hit the stage. The refrain fits with the band's youthful and unassuming nature: "I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies. This is the dawning of the rest of our lives."
After the talent show, Lachapelle, Fortier and Reeves organized themselves, learned more songs and played at the eighth-grade dance. Then, they began performing at public events, such as at dances at the Skowhegan Recreation Center, at Moonlight Madness in Skowhegan and at the Taste of Greater Waterville festival. They performed two years ago at a benefit for the Skowhegan Library.
Now, they have performed at about 20 events and have amassed a repertoire of nearly 35 songs, which represent "something for every age group," said Fortier, who also plays violin. The group has incorporated more complicated songs.
"The first couple of songs we learned were just a couple chords," Fortier said.
The group also expanded to include a new member, Amanda Saucier, 15, of Norridgewock, who plays rhythm guitar, electric violin and keyboard. She performed her third gig with the band recently at the Somerset Grange No. 18, in Norridgewock, where the members gave a concert at a Halloween party organized by the town.
"It's a lot of fun," Lachapelle said of the band. "We enjoy it. We get to practice all the time and then come play."
All of the band members are honor students who participate in extracurricular activities, but they said they all practice individually as much as they can, sometimes two hours a day, up to six days a week. They gather on Sundays in Lachapelle's basement to practice as a group.
They have acquired their musical prowess through lessons, their parents and by teaching themselves, they said.
Saucier has played violin since she was 6, she said. She has played guitar for two years. She taught herself how to play keyboard.
Lachapelle has played drums since fourth grade and credited his father for teaching him. Reeves credited his father for introducing him to the bass guitar. Fortier began taking guitar lessons in eighth grade and then started teaching himself songs off the Internet, he said.
Fortier, who is a junior, said he probably won't major in music in college -- he'd like to enter the medical field -- but he hopes to continue playing after high school. He is a three-season athlete who participates in soccer, basketball and baseball.
Lachapelle, also a junior, said he will likely enter the science field after graduation. He plays in the high school jazz band.
Reeves, a sophomore, would like to learn more about audio recording and photography after high school, he said. He plays football, and he snowboards and longboards.
Saucier, a freshman, said she may enter the medical field. She participates in dance, plays field hockey and teaches swimming.
"To learn an instrument, you need to challenge your brain," Fortier said. "There's definitely a connection between doing well in school and playing an instrument."
All the band members agreed that playing music is a relieving form of expression.
"It's like an outlet from stress," Fortier said. "If I'm stressed out, I just go upstairs and play guitar."
"It's your own little world," Saucier said.
Fate is found online at www.fate1234.com. To book them, contact them at doyoubelievinfate@aol.com or 858-8991.
Erin Rhoda -- 474-9534
erhoda@mainetoday.com
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