It’s a familiar scene to many U.Va. students — sun shines on brick walls and white columns, green grass glows from beneath a cornhole board and students mill around, laughing, talking, enjoying the afternoon. And up on stage a singer with a mop of curly red hair belts out something by Blues Traveler or the Eagles. Behind him, an electric guitar twangs and a saxophone purrs with a warm, lively melody.
This is Kendall Street Company. The group consists entirely of current and former U.Va. students, lead by ebullient singer Louis Smith and smooth saxophonist Andrew Drehoff, the band’s two founding members. Formed at the University in 2013, the band has been featured around Grounds for years, playing regularly at fraternity parties, as well at various venues along the Corner.
In recent months, however, Kendall Street Company has set their sights higher. Last November, the band launched a Kickstarter account, in hopes of raising enough money to rent studio space and record a full-length album. They met their goal in just over a month, and recently released their debut record, “Earth Turns”.
“We've always tried to shy away from being seen as a cover band,” bassist Brian Roy said. “But it wasn't until about a year ago that we had enough original material to cover a couple of sets.”
Playing homemade numbers has been satisfying for the group.
“One of the coolest things has been seeing people sing along to our originals,” Roy said.
“Earth Turns” may surprise those familiar only with the fraternity-yard version of Kendall Street Company. The album’s tone is cerebral and ethereal, more like Steely Dan or Phish than the classic rock numbers the band generally plays around Grounds. However, the album retains the laid-back optimism of a cheerful afternoon party, and a distinct splash of Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews can be heard on numbers like “Cars” and “We Were Words”.
“‘Earth Turns’ has some really up-tempo, exciting songs juxtaposed with others that are quite intimate,” Roy said.
The band’s accomplished instrumentation runs throughout the record. The opening saxophone riff of “Steer Clear” crackles with sultry energy. Guitarist Ben Laderberg shreds out a propulsive solo on “Seem Serene”. Smith’s lyrics remain accessible while deftly avoiding cliche.
Kendall Street Company’s skill will allow them to push away from the comfort of Grounds and into the wider world; with 13 gigs lined up between now and Halloween in locations across Virginia, D.C. and Maryland, it seems like the band has every intention of expanding their reach.
The mode may be jazzy, funky and at times experimental, but the spirit of the album, deep down, is convivial and relaxed. And no matter where they go, the band will always have a little bit of U.Va. in them.
“The University has played a huge role in our development as a band,” Roy said.
And he’s right. A sun-soaked frat party, an evening at Crozet — these are critical strands in the group’s DNA, and they’re audible, if sometimes subdued, on “Earth Turns”.
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