keslinger

DeKALB - Teenagers in low-riding jeans and grungy T-shirts and college students drinking lattes and wine sat in clusters between groups of middle-aged people at The House in DeKalb one cold December night.

The low chatter stopped and all heads turned as local-group Keslinger took to the stage in the corner and began playing a collection of energetic songs, such as “Saturdays” and “Are you listening?” with punk, rock and pop elements.

While the four band members - who wore tight dress shirts with ties tucked in between the buttons - played, a middle-aged couple sitting near the stage kept time with their feet and two teenage girls left their sodas with friends to dance.

“Playing live is really rewarding because we get to see an immediate response to our work and, so far, the response has been really positive,” said Chris Lauriat, the 25-year-old drum player.

The former DeKalb man, now of Wheaton, formed the band less than two years ago with his brother, Jon Lauriat, 18, of DeKalb, who plays guitar and provides background vocals, Nick Parker, 21, of DeKalb, who plays bass, and Seth Deming, 22, of Sycamore, the lead vocal singer and a guitar player.

Jon Lauriat always liked the name of a local road, Keslinger, which is south of DeKalb and Sycamore cities, and the men named their band after it.

They say they take inspiration from the bands Green Day, Stavesacre and Goldfinger, and from their faith.

Toward the end of the night at The House, they sang “Identity” about their “identity in Christ.”

“We're all Christian, and I guess in a sense that makes us a Christian band,” Deming said.

“We're trying to ‘make it' - whatever that means,” Deming said. “In my mind, we have (made it) as far as accomplishing what I've wanted to do. As for success and money, we don't really talk about that.”

The band had some recent success when it competed in a regional contest.

About 50 Chicago-area bands submitted tapes to an area radio station for the Battle of the Bands contest. The station selected nine to play concerts in October, and from those concerts, Keslinger was voted the top band. The radio station played the group's music and interviewed them on air.

It also gave them the opportunity to play an opening set at the House of Blues in Chicago on Nov. 16. They opened for Hanson, known for the 1997 song, “MMMBop.”

Keslinger, like other local bands, works practices and performances around the rest of their lives - Deming and Chris Lauriat both are married. Deming attends Kishwaukee College, Jon Lauriat attends University of Illinois and Parker goes to Northern Illinois University. Chris Lauriat works for an architectural firm in Chicago.

“Finding time to practice is hard, but none of us have children, so we're flexible,” Deming said. On performance days, they start getting equipment together at 4 p.m., work through the evening and sometimes get home around 2 a.m. the next day.

“But all of it is fun because I'm doing what I enjoy and I'm with friends,” he said.

The group's next show is Jan. 28, at a yet-to-be-determined location. To find out more about the show or band, check its Web site at www.keslinger.com.

The group has recorded a 10-song CD, which is available at its shows and through its Web site.

(published January 8, 2006, front page)
- The Daily Chronicle, Renee Messacar - Staff Writer