Friends of Lola
Gig Seeker Pro

Friends of Lola

| SELF

| SELF
Band Country Americana

Calendar

Music

Press


"American Songwriter Daily Discovery"

Daily Discovery: Friends of Lola - American Songwriter


"American Songwriter Daily Discovery"

Daily Discovery: Friends of Lola - American Songwriter


"Musical roots brings Millington natives with Friends of Lola band home to perform new release"

Their mom is a gifted musician and singer. Their brother is an actor in Los Angeles. Their dad is a Municipal Court judge, whose courtroom platform might be considered a stage. Where else would you expect to find Houston and Cyrena Wages than on the stage?

And that's where they'll be on Thursday night at the Hi-Tone Café.

The Friends of Lola band features Millington's Houston, 30, and Cyrena, 21, and Gabe Rabben of Nashville, formerly of Laguna Beach, Calif., whose career includes three years touring as the drummer for Bill Medley of Righteous Brothers fame.

Doors open at 7 p.m. with the first of two opening acts at 8 and the Friends of Lola set to begin their 12-song gig somewhere around 9:30 or 9:45 at the Hi-Tone, 1913 Poplar Ave. (901-278-8663). Tickets are $7.

Houston and Cyrena graduated from Briarcrest Christian School, Houston in 2001 and Cyrena in 2009. After a year at the University of Memphis, Houston transferred to the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and from there on to Los Angeles where he spent five years as an actor before he returned to his musical roots. He met Rabben on a visit to Nashville earlier this year.

"He (Houston) came to visit in July and was going to stay for two weeks and he was staying with Gabe and we said, "'Well, let's just write a bunch of songs; country songs and sell them to other artists,'" Cyrena said. "We were all kind of seeking publishing deals."

It wasn't long after that some friends suggested they record their own songs.

Those same friends owned a Boston terrier named Lola.

Thus was born not only the group's name — Friends of Lola — but also the band's first single — "Black Swan," which

was released on Jan. 2 and will be one of the featured songs in their Hi-Tone Café performance.

Things have really been moving fast for the Friends of Lola.

"I think one of the reasons we were able to do things so fast is because, well, I am very, very hyper," Houston said with a laugh. "I think I brought one song that we did together that I'd already written. I think what works so well is that our personalities are so different. We complemented each other, so we were able to move very quickly."

Rabben decided to move to Nashville after spending time there during a record session with Medley's band. He met Cyrena through a mutual friend and they have been dating for about a year.

"Then, he (Houston) came to town (Nashville) and we all hit it off," Rabben said. "Next thing we'd formed the group. We all do something that blends something to the group. Houston is very great about having these ideas that sparks everything. He is definitely a poet. He has a way with words." In fact, Cyrena says her brother not long ago wrote two songs while on his way to Nashville after attending a friend's funeral.

So, how would they describe their group?

Cyrena said, "Sometimes we like to say it's a cross between a current artists like Lady Antebellum, the band, you know, and maybe Crosby, Stills and Nash. It's a bit of contemporary country but it's got some soul."

Rabben said, "That old folksy meets a more modern day country sort of group."

For sure, there's no doubt about the group's goal.

"We're trying to go to the top," Rabben said. "There are so many bands in Nashville; that's part of the problem, but it's also one of the really great things about Nashville. Because there are so many bands you can trust your peers. If people like you in Nashville you know you are doing well because there is so much talent and so many great groups. I feel if we can get a following there, which we are starting to build, then it will kind of translate on a broader scale."

Houston and Cyrena credit their parents with helping mold their musical careers.

"My mom (Deborah) has been singing her full life and playing the piano since she was a little girl," said Cyrena, who won the 2012 Miss Memphis crown. "She is so amazing. The older I get the more I realize how musical she is. Two years ago Houston and I walked in at Christmas and she had an acoustic guitar and was playing it on the couch. I'd never seen her touch a guitar in my life. I was like, 'What in the world.' But, you know, she's a great pianist and beautiful singer. My dad (Millington municipal court judge A. Wilson Wages), although he hasn't found his outlet yet, he is extremely creative and his music knowledge is insane."

The group's new album is due out in February.

When asked if she would be nervous performing so close to home, Cyrena laughed and said, "I get nervous, but it's good. I know if I'm not nervous I don't normally do well."

By Larry Rea
- The Commercial Appeal


"Musical roots brings Millington natives with Friends of Lola band home to perform new release"

Their mom is a gifted musician and singer. Their brother is an actor in Los Angeles. Their dad is a Municipal Court judge, whose courtroom platform might be considered a stage. Where else would you expect to find Houston and Cyrena Wages than on the stage?

And that's where they'll be on Thursday night at the Hi-Tone Café.

The Friends of Lola band features Millington's Houston, 30, and Cyrena, 21, and Gabe Rabben of Nashville, formerly of Laguna Beach, Calif., whose career includes three years touring as the drummer for Bill Medley of Righteous Brothers fame.

Doors open at 7 p.m. with the first of two opening acts at 8 and the Friends of Lola set to begin their 12-song gig somewhere around 9:30 or 9:45 at the Hi-Tone, 1913 Poplar Ave. (901-278-8663). Tickets are $7.

Houston and Cyrena graduated from Briarcrest Christian School, Houston in 2001 and Cyrena in 2009. After a year at the University of Memphis, Houston transferred to the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and from there on to Los Angeles where he spent five years as an actor before he returned to his musical roots. He met Rabben on a visit to Nashville earlier this year.

"He (Houston) came to visit in July and was going to stay for two weeks and he was staying with Gabe and we said, "'Well, let's just write a bunch of songs; country songs and sell them to other artists,'" Cyrena said. "We were all kind of seeking publishing deals."

It wasn't long after that some friends suggested they record their own songs.

Those same friends owned a Boston terrier named Lola.

Thus was born not only the group's name — Friends of Lola — but also the band's first single — "Black Swan," which

was released on Jan. 2 and will be one of the featured songs in their Hi-Tone Café performance.

Things have really been moving fast for the Friends of Lola.

"I think one of the reasons we were able to do things so fast is because, well, I am very, very hyper," Houston said with a laugh. "I think I brought one song that we did together that I'd already written. I think what works so well is that our personalities are so different. We complemented each other, so we were able to move very quickly."

Rabben decided to move to Nashville after spending time there during a record session with Medley's band. He met Cyrena through a mutual friend and they have been dating for about a year.

"Then, he (Houston) came to town (Nashville) and we all hit it off," Rabben said. "Next thing we'd formed the group. We all do something that blends something to the group. Houston is very great about having these ideas that sparks everything. He is definitely a poet. He has a way with words." In fact, Cyrena says her brother not long ago wrote two songs while on his way to Nashville after attending a friend's funeral.

So, how would they describe their group?

Cyrena said, "Sometimes we like to say it's a cross between a current artists like Lady Antebellum, the band, you know, and maybe Crosby, Stills and Nash. It's a bit of contemporary country but it's got some soul."

Rabben said, "That old folksy meets a more modern day country sort of group."

For sure, there's no doubt about the group's goal.

"We're trying to go to the top," Rabben said. "There are so many bands in Nashville; that's part of the problem, but it's also one of the really great things about Nashville. Because there are so many bands you can trust your peers. If people like you in Nashville you know you are doing well because there is so much talent and so many great groups. I feel if we can get a following there, which we are starting to build, then it will kind of translate on a broader scale."

Houston and Cyrena credit their parents with helping mold their musical careers.

"My mom (Deborah) has been singing her full life and playing the piano since she was a little girl," said Cyrena, who won the 2012 Miss Memphis crown. "She is so amazing. The older I get the more I realize how musical she is. Two years ago Houston and I walked in at Christmas and she had an acoustic guitar and was playing it on the couch. I'd never seen her touch a guitar in my life. I was like, 'What in the world.' But, you know, she's a great pianist and beautiful singer. My dad (Millington municipal court judge A. Wilson Wages), although he hasn't found his outlet yet, he is extremely creative and his music knowledge is insane."

The group's new album is due out in February.

When asked if she would be nervous performing so close to home, Cyrena laughed and said, "I get nervous, but it's good. I know if I'm not nervous I don't normally do well."

By Larry Rea
- The Commercial Appeal


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

Photos

Bio

“Holy cow…everytime I hear Friends of Lola…they get awesome…er.” –Tammy Ragusa, Country Weekly Magazine.

Nashville born band, Friends of Lola, may not look or sound new to the country music scene, but they are. The three faces of the trio are siblings Houston Wages and Cyrena Wages of Memphis, TN, and Gabe Rabben of Laguna Beach, CA. “Things happened for us so quickly but so organically...we were all a little surprised at how obvious our musical chemistry together is,” -Cyrena. FOL’s self-produced debut EP, “Letters from Tennessee,” was released in February 2013 and is comprised of six songs the three wrote together in their tiny Nashville apartment in the fall of 2012.

Before the birth of FOL, Houston was in Los Angeles pursuing an acting career, Cyrena was beginning her senior year at Belmont University, and Gabe was touring as the drummer for Righteous Brother, Bill Medley. Worlds collided when Cyrena and Gabe went on a blind date and began dating in Spring 2012. Houston and Gabe met for the first time in Memphis a few months later, wrote their first song one night in about ten minutes, and therefore the rest is history. Houston packed his bags, left Cali, and joined the other two in Music City.

“We think there’s something special about getting to tap into the country industry at this exact time. It’s really evolving and inviting fresh, risky, interesting ideas, and we’re excited to be a part of that.”- FOL. With influences stemming from as far as The Eagles to Bonnie Raitt to Stevie Wonder to Hank Williams Sr., it’s no secret these old souled kids were raised on old school musical influences. Their songs find a perfect balance between poetic yet translucent lyrics, with melodies that drive ya mad all day. As for now, the FOL’ers keep their eye on the prize and try to write “good songs that make people feel something.” Stay tuned for what’s to come of Wages, Wages, and Rabben.