Lantic

By Chris Beattie, cbeattie@acnpapers.com
Published: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 10:49 PM CDT
Three different ages. Two pairs of brothers. One unique sound.


That's the short and sweet of the band, Lantic, made up of four high schoolers in McKinney. The group --- formed through a little luck and a lot of talent --- has taken off. And as their band's name spreads, the teens share a lofty mission.

"Good music comes in bursts," guitarist Trey Wendt said. "Like every 10 years, there will be a set of good bands, and we want to start that wave of great rock bands."

The band's trek toward greatness may have just begun. It won "Battle of the Bands" at The Door in Dallas two weeks ago, qualifying for Wildflower 2011, the largest annual music festival in North Texas, May 20-22 in Richardson.

McKinney residents get an even earlier peek at the band when it performs Saturday afternoon at the Trash-Off awards lunch at Old Settler's Park. Both shows provide an opportunity for Lantic to continue proving its doubters wrong.

"Most people think we're going to suck because we're so young," drummer Josh Jurovic said. "But after we play, they always know we're for real."

Perhaps it's difficult not to doubt a group whose oldest member is 17. Trey, a sophomore, and his freshman brother and bass guitarist, Eric, are students at McKinney Boyd High School. The band's lead singer, Ryan Jurovic, and his brother Josh go to McKinney North High School.

The tandem formed a few years ago through baseball and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Trey and Ryan played on the same baseball team but didn't hang out beyond the diamond. Eric played on Josh's team, and both discovered a mutual musical passion. The four finally linked up at a random jam session at the Jurovic house.

"We started out playing Chili Pepper songs just because we liked it," Ryan said. "Then after a while, we were writing our own songs and got serious."

They also changed their name from Little Bo Peep and the Jam Puppets.

"'Lantic' just sounded cool," Trey said. "It's a province in Paris, and I also hear it's some animal that lives under the ice."

The group's formation and ensuing title were spontaneous, much like its blossoming music. The four practice in the Jurovic media room-turned-studio at least three times a week for sessions ranging from 30 minutes to more than three hours.

During the summer they show both their age and dedication. They spend the night at the Jurovic household, wake up and practice for hours, go out and swim, then come back in and jam for the rest of the night.

Their random practice times coincide with their songs' creation.

"There is not a set way to write songs," Josh said. "We usually come up with a part on our own instrument. Some songs come right away, but the process is different every single time."

Eric said the band's approach makes it unique.

"We each have our own influence," he said. "Whenever that comes out in our music, it all forms our sound."

Whatever their process, it seems to be working. They finished recording their first album, "Zuschana Revolt," in December.

The band used for the album Indian Trail Recording Studio near Denton and Harvey Gerst, a producer in-tune with special music. Gerst played with Jimi Hendrix, who some argue is the best guitarist ever, and gave a drunk Jim Morrison, another famous musician, a ride home. He was even set to mix Janis Joplin's music the day she died.

Gerst quickly recognized the tandem's talent.

"After we played, he told us we were the best young band that he's heard," Josh said, "and better than a lot of adult bands, too."

All four admit that school has taken a backseat on a ride that's finally gaining momentum. They haven't left their high school fun behind, though. They refer to Eric as "Ric Face." Trey refuses to pay at restaurants sometimes, telling cashiers that he's "Tricken Trocken Trey" and forcing Ryan to cover his tab.

"People look at us and probably think we're so dumb and not funny," Ryan said. "But we think it's funny."

Ryan added that their bond is what could eventually take them to the top.

"A lot of bands recruit certain people, but then the chemistry suffers," he said. "We came together just through destiny, fate or whatever. I think the friendship is a big contributing factor to how easily it comes for us."

The band members said they hope more will soon notice their talented collaboration. They open for REO Speedwagon and Sister Hazel at Wildflower 2011, where they could win $1,000 and 30 hours of recording time at a professional studio in Austin.

More than 70,000 people typically come to the festival each year, the least of whom will get to hear a new band in town that, regardless of its youth, continues to do its thing.

"We don't limit ourselves like a lot of bands do now," Trey said. "We don't try to do just one thing. We do whatever we want to do. Our goal is just to bring good rock back."

The band's Tra - Star Local News

The 16th Annual Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands presents Lantic who is competing for a spot on this years 2012 Warped Tour. - Ernie Ball

Hailing from the halls of McKinney North and McKinney Boyd High Schools, are two sets of brothers form the local band Lantic. Brothers Ryan and Josh Jurovic and Erik and Trey Wendt met years ago and began jamming together just for the fun of it. When they realized they had true talen,t they decided to form their band called Lantic and have been together ever since.

The band has played a few local gigs in the past, but nothing on the scale of the Sunday's Smiles Charity venue, where they will be the opening act for the Maylee Thomas Band and David Nail.

The band did a couple of photo shoots and a commercial in preparation for the event. But "practice, practice, practice" has been the main key in getting ready for the concert.

“We kind of have an upper hand that other bands don’t have since it’s two sets of brothers," Ryan said. "We don’t have to coordinate four different people in different locations. Josh and I are already here (their home where they constantly jam) and the other two can just come over when we call them."

The boys have been practicing non-stop for the past couple of weeks in order to perform their very best at the concert. The band has an hour to play and will hopefully be able to fit in its 15-song set list.

“For me its just about getting people to hear us,” Ryan says as he talks about what the band wants to get out of the event. “To hear what we have created and all of our effort.”

Lantic will be selling their album at the concert and is hoping to be on iTunes in the near future.

The Smiles Charity event will be held on Sunday May 27th from 5-10 p.m. in Adriatica off of Stonebridge Dr. and Virginia Parkway. The event is free for the public but donations are encouraged. The event will feature bounce houses for children, fireworks at the end of the evening and much more. Come out and support Lantic and the Smiles Charity.

SMILES CHARITY CONCERT ITENERARY

When: Sunday May 27th 5:00-10:00 pm

Where: 6595 W. Virginia Pkwy, McKinney TX 75071

Located in McKinney’s Adriatica, a European style planned development, behind the offices of Dr. Jennifer Buchanan near intersection of Virginia Pkwy and Stonebridge Dr. - Town Square Buzz