Optimist
You are here: Home / Bands

M.A.Double: Sophomore steps up to the call of musical ministry

by

"I never really thought I'd be recording or producing music as a sort of ministry," said Matt Preston, sophomore ministry major from Abilene. But that is exactly what he has ended up doing under the moniker M.A.Double, derived from the spelling of his first name: "M-A-Double-T". "As far as my interest in hip hop it really goes back around middle ... [Read More…]

Open Your Ears

by

Close Your Eyes, a hardcore rock band from Abilene, kicked off its first tour with a CD release party and signing at Hastings Entertainment on South 14th Street. "It's going to be a really fun night," said Shane Raymond, lead vocalist for Close Your Eyes. "We're going to play Rock Band here in a bit. We'll take on all challengers. The gauntlet has ... [Read More…]

Local band shoots video, charms audiences

by

"Consider our faces melted," wrote Outlaw Music Magazine about Hardin-Simmons-born hardcore band Close Your Eyes. Outlaw wasn't the only one impressed by CYE recently. The band shot a music video for its album, We Will Overcome, on Feb. 11, garnering attention from multiple music publications, fans all over Texas and the Abilene ... [Read More…]

It’s Victory for Close Your Eyes

by

By Paul Knettel Close Your Eyes, an Abilene-based hardcore band, made its Victory Records debut Saturday night in a concert at the Rose Park Activity Center in Abilene. Victory Records, which touts bands such as A Day to Remember, Bayside and Hawthorne Heights, officially signed Close Your Eyes just a week ago on Nov. 2. Brett Callaway, who ... [Read More…]

Local Christian rock act signs with Chicago label

by

Victory Records gave the local band, Close Your Eyes, an opportunity to record an album when they signed them Oct. 30. Brett Callaway, lead guitarist for Close Your Eyes, said the band was talking to other labels before Victory called, asking the band to play a show in Chicago. Soon after the show, Close Your Eyes and Victory started negotiating ... [Read More…]

Jazz groups to perform at Monks

by

By Jill Dougher   ACU jazz students and Monks Coffee Shop have joined forces to create a weekly jazz night at Monks for those who enjoy playing or listening to jazz music. Jazz Night is a free, informal event that allows students, faculty and the public to bring an instrument to Monks and play jazz music every Tuesday night from 8:30-10 ... [Read More…]

You are here: Home / Bands