Local band works to make ends meet on the stage

Taking the stage might result in a paycheck—if one is lucky—but for local band “In The Unlikely Event,” it’s a little more meaningful than that.

“What it all comes down to is the feeling you get of being on stage and playing for people,” band guitarist Ryan Dame said. “That feeling of being accepted musically is one of the best I’ve ever felt.”

Dame, along with vocalist Austin Honea, is a recent graduate of Wichita State. Bassist Jacob Bowling is currently finishing up his degree at WSU.

The six-person band formed in September 2011, and since has cultivated a respectable following, especially among the high school crowd.

They have performed alongside well-known bands like “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Attack Attack!”

“At the point where we are, it’s not really glorious,” Bowling said. “We are not really making money doing this.”

Other members of the band include Kyle Cooper (drums), Ryan Gant (guitar), and Sam Harper (keys/vocals).

The band considers its genre to be metal-core, although with more vocal elements. The best way to describe the music is intense.

“It’s also a really fun type of music to play because there is a lot of energy from the crowd,” Dame said. “You get exercise, too, which offsets all the Taco Bell we eat.”

Dame writes most of the band’s music, with input from everyone else. Like most bands, they have dreams of making a living off of their music, but won’t abandon the essence of who they are.

“Selling out in terms of changing style, I wouldn’t really want to do. Ideally I’d like to make money off of music that I am proud of,” Dame said. “It’s the one thing that I love and can’t get enough of.”

Right now, the band is happy to break even. Between the cost of gas to travel to shows and promotional ideas that come out of their own pocket, expenses can add up quickly.

And the amount of work involved to keep the band growing requires major commitments from each band member.

“I don’t mind the work but I do wish we could just be playing all the time, because that’s the fun part of it,” Dame said.

To learn more about the band and listen to its music, go to its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ITUEKS. The band’s music is also for sale on numerous online music stores, including iTunes and Spotify.