By JESS PEREGOY

jep024@latech.edu

 

Sundown West Tavern, located at 111 E. Park Ave., exposed The New Frontiers to a packed bar Jan. 9 with tour mates Manchester Orchestra of Atlanta and locals The Upstair’s Divine.

The New Frontiers and Manchester Orchestra had embarked on a tour together stopping in Ruston with just a few dates remaining in Lake Charles, Austin and ending in The New Frontiers’ hometown, Dallas.

The show marked Manchester Orchestra’s first time in Ruston and bassist J Corely said the band enjoyed the stop.

“I enjoyed the city. It’s a really cool, old town and it felt like there was a tight knit community at the show,” Corely said. “The community feeling was the best part.”

Bethany Raybourn of the Upstair’s Divine said “the atmosphere was spectacular. It was crowded,” she said. “It was comfortably crowded.”

Corely said touring with the New Frontiers was the most fun the band has ever had on tour.

“It felt like summer camp when we had to leave them,” Corely said. “They’re the first band we’ve toured with I’ve watched every night and was excited to see them- that’s hard to come by on a lot of tours.”

Altering their ego as The New Frontiers, they have revamped their name but thankfully, not their style.

The New Frontiers drummer Alex Bhore said renaming the band was not an idea they were fond of, however, the change was unavoidable because of certain legal issues.

“Due to some legal stuff with some bands in other countries, we changed our name from Stellamaris to The New Frontiers,” Bhore said. “We didn’t want a name that would automatically pigeonhole our music and our band into any specific genre and I think the new name will work well for us considering we’ll be putting out records that are more noticeable.”

Bhore said the band drew inspiration for the new name duaring their last tour.

“We just read through books and tried to come up with [a band name] that everyone was cool with,” Bhore said. “[The New Frontiers] was the only name that almost everyone liked.”

Bhore described the band’s style of picturesque melody as “big, spacey and epic.”

The show began with a wistful performance from the Upstair’s Divine setting a very different tone in Sundown.

“It was great to play at one of my favorite places in Ruston with some of my favorite people,” Raybourn said.

The Upstair’s Divine recently recorded a demo in Tyler, Texas and will play a few dates in Louisiana before venturing to Texas to play the South by North Texas Festival with Mates of State in March.

The Upstair’s Divine was followed by a surprising set from the five piece Manchester Orchestra led by Andy Hull’s encompassing presence and charismatic vocals.

“I enjoyed seeing Manchester [Orchestra]. They had such a compelling performance,” Raybourn said.

Manchester Orchestra will head on tour with indie rockers Brand New in March on a nationwide tour.

“It’s such an exciting opportunity for us,” Corely said. “[Brand New] has always been great when we’ve played with them before.”

The band released their album “I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child” in October and has received a warm response.

“It’s the first thing we’ve put out as a band we’re very proud of. Anytime our music means anything to someone it’s great,” Corely said.

Corely said after all of the band’s up-coming plans have completed, they hope to come through Ruston again.