By Bailey Faulkner
Are you a fan of fresh, hometown rock? Mark your calendars for Friday, Feb. 5 when Black Cat Burrito will host Boone favorite indie-rock band The Remarks. The band will be joined by out-of-town opening acts Indighost and Minnesota License Plate.
The Remarks
Formed in early 2015, The Remarks have quickly proved themselves as one of Boone’s most exciting rock groups. The four-piece band is filled out by:
Aaron Aiken (guitar, vocals)
Chris Peroni (guitar)
Ethan Sermersheim (bass)
Stephen Sigmon (drums)
Inspired by a wide range of bands and influences, the members of The Remarks have meshed together their own tastes to create a truly unique sound.
The band already has several notable achievements under its belt. Although based in Boone, The Remarks have not hesitated to expand beyond the High Country.
On July 10, the band travelled to The Grey Eagle in Asheville to open for Australian indie-pop band Dick Diver. The Grey Eagle has been voted one of the nation’s top 25 live music venues by touring musicians.
A few days after their Asheville show, The Remarks trekked to Chapel Hill to play at Local 506 alongside Sol Cat and Hot Water & the Bone.
With ASU’s fall semester approaching, the band began recording its debut album in August at the Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio on campus. The group recorded its debut effort with the help of engineer Chris Pope, a senior in the Music Industries program at App State.
“He did a killer job,” Aiken said.
Wrapping up the recording process, the band released its album in November. It is now available for streaming and purchase on the band’s website, theremarksband.com, and on Spotify, SoundCloud, iTunes and other online music services.
The group also headlined a show at Legends in November. They played alongside Boone native opener Unaka Prong, and the show was a hit.
Now, a few weeks into a new semester at school, the members of the band are setting their sights on the future.
“Second to booking, writing new material is something we feel is necessary to keep flowing in the background,” Aiken said.
Unlike some groups, The Remarks rely heavily on each member during the songwriting process.
“On our own, it’s hard to keep focused and see the creative process through. That’s why I’m thankful to have other heads to bounce ideas off of,” Aiken added.
The band hopes that its hard work and dedication will lead to even more success in the future. Besides spreading its music, the band has other reasons for wanting success.
“Hopefully we’ll make enough money to eventually get away from the Wendy’s 4 for $4 value meal. It’s killing us,” Aiken said.
The band will surely enjoy eating at Black Cat Burrito before its upcoming show.
Black Cat Burrito
Friday’s show will mark the band’s first Boone appearance of the new year. Since last semester, the band has been able to work on new material, expanding its already deep repertoire from the group’s nine-track album.
“There will definitely be new songs in the Black Cat set,” Aiken revealed.
While each of the band’s shows seems to be a unique experience, every performance is guaranteed to be exciting. For the first time, The Remarks will share the stage with Indighost (Bristol, Tennessee) and Minnesota License Plate (Rock Hill, South Carolina). The Remarks hope to return the favor and play alongside their openers in their hometowns in the coming months.
Friday’s Black Cat show will begin at 10 p.m. There will be a $5 cover charge.
Before the show, fans should tune in to WASU’s “The Local Lowdown” for a chance to hear the hottest tracks from The Remarks and other local bands.
Get ready for an awesome show on Friday!
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