When it comes to the local music scene, high school bands are an important part of what shapes the sounds and community. One such high school band is Thunderous Bangs, consisting of seniors Ace Howell on guitar and singing, Elio Minne on drums, and Luke Silvers on bass. Before they graduate, they are going to release a final, self-titled album as a band. “This has been a long-term goal of ours.” Elio says, “We’ve actually found out how much work goes into creating an album.”
The three of them met in elementary school and played music together informally in middle school. “I was friends with Ace and Luke before we were a band,” Elio remarks, “we don’t just know each other to play music”. But their music helps strengthen their friendship, and their friendship helps strengthen their music. “When you’re playing together, and you reach a flow state, it’s unmatched,” says Elio. Playing music helps connect them to each other, but also to others. “We have a lot of fun meeting people who are also in the music scene,” states Elio,”There’s a certain genre that high schoolers like to go see at local shows, and we try to appeal to people our age, which is, generally, pretty successful.”
Along with the inspiration they get from the environment around them, they also each bring their own sound to the band. “Ace is very Weezer, old rock inspired, I like a lot of more experimental or grungy music,” Elio describes, “and Luke likes Canterbury Prague.” Their many inspirations are one key aspect of their music, but the other is how much they care about it. “Everything I’ve written has come from a place of just pure love and lust for music,” says Luke, “no negativity ever goes into music.” It comes naturally to them. “When writing melodies, it’s all kind of just whatever comes to you,” Elio explains, “like in a dream.”
Now their dreams are turning into a reality with their new album because of their hard work. “It was a lot of work, and we knocked it out in two days because that’s all we could afford,” Says Elio. “We worked our asses off”. With their first and final album released and their band soon to part ways, they are finding a new freedom. “We know we have to end soon, and we can just kinda go out and have fun,” Luke comments. “I used to be crazy stressed before shows, but now I’m like, ‘hey, whatever.’”
With their new album, Thunderous Bangs has to some become THE senior band. “I think the idea of a high school band is just really cool, “Elio reflects, “and it’s something that I’ve loved experiencing because we’ve grown a lot in high school and as a band as well.”
Listen and buy their new album
