About a year ago, the idea for this ensemble was born. Its name is inspired by 2002 film “The Count of Monte Cristo.” 

The group has played at Gnat’s Landing and Your Pie in Statesboro. They have also played venues in surrounding areas like Vidalia and Swainsboro. The group has covered songs by many different artists including Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and Elvis. They have also performed original songs written by Wheeler.

Photos Taken by Lauren Sabia

The group was candid about what challenges they’ve faced since they began working together. 

“Direction has definitely been a challenge,” Wheeler said. “My songwriting is more pop, and I want to go in a more pop-like direction with a lot of it, whereas I feel like Myles wants to take it in more of a rock direction.”

“But that’s just personal interest taking a role in how we develop collectively.” Lockely added. “And don’t take pop to mean what the general term means, which is like popular,” he said. “It’s more about the genre of pop. The melody and the beat.”

Wheeler also opened up about struggles faced when sharing an original song with the group. 

“Usually the way that I write music, I write all of the parts out kinda in my head and jot down notes on paper, so in my mind, I have a certain way that I want things to go,” he said. “But when I’m in a band, and I tell them to play this part and it’s different, it’s hard for me to just let it go because my songs are like my babies. So it’s like a difficult thing for me.” 

When asked what their goals for the future were, the boys laughed. “I want 50 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at one time,” Wheeler said.

“But, in all seriousness, the whole thing behind starting a band and writing music is to get it out and make it somewhere doing something that you’re passionate,” Myles said. “That’s the main reason why I play. It’s a passion to play music, and if we can make a living doing that, I guess that would be a goal.”

The group is currently working on getting their name out there and booking more shows. For their latest updates, follow them on Instagram @kings_to_you and like Kings To You on Facebook.

Photos Taken by Lauren Sabia

Friday, April 15

Celebrate the end of the week with these concerts! First up is the Tall Paul Band, who will be playing at Eagle Creek Brewery starting at 7 p.m. Tall Paul’s sound is a mix of bluegrass and country.

Acoustic artist Chandler Fritts will play Loco’s Grill and Pub from 9 p.m. to midnight. Funk band Soul Mechanic will play at Dingus Magee’s from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The Chris Mitchell Band will be playing at Gnat’s Landing starting at 10 p.m. tomorrow. The Chris Mitchell Band’s music has a classic rock sound tinged with some country and blues.

Saturday, April 16

There are no shortage of concerts this Saturday, either. Singer-songwriter Nick Bryant will play a set at Eagle Creek Brewery from 6 to 9 p.m. Then, solo artist Forrest O’Quinn will play at Loco’s Grill and Pub from 9 pm to midnight. Riptide will play at Dingus from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The Road to Sweetwater 420 Fest Concert Series is coming to South City Tavern for Statesboro’s third Boropalooza music festival! Local band Half Seas Over kicks off the music at 7 p.m. playing a pre-show until 8 p.m. Rock band Steppin Stones will play from 8 to 10 p.m., and local favorite The Orange Constant will play from 9:30 to 11:30 pm. Augusta band Funk You will close out the festival with their set from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. This festival is ages 18 and above.

People who come to this concert will have the chance to win two passes to the Sweetwater 420 Festival that is in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park next weekend. The Orange Constant and Funk You will both be playing at Sweetwater 420 Festival. If you purchase tickets for Boropalooza online, your name will be entered into the drawing for the Sweetwater 420 tickets three times! Tickets for Boropalooza are $5 online and $10 at the door.

Photos courtesy of Soul Mechanic and Funk You.

Saturday, March 5

Indie and emo rock is coming to Savannah’s Black Box Theatre this Saturday! Attalus, Between Symmetries, Lost Boy, and Falling In are playing at the venue, located at 9 W. Henry St., starting at 7 p.m. Food and beverages will be provided by Moe’s Southwest Grill, and there is a $7 cover charge. This concert is all-ages.

Thursday, March 10

Metal is returning to rock Statesboro! Foghouse Vapors will host bands Silversel, Guns Out At Sundown, Fishtooth and Carbonine next Thursday. Music will start at 6 p.m., with free pizza and soda provided to concertgoers.

Foghouse Vapors is located at 3349 Northside Dr. West. Donations are requested for the bands playing.

Thursday, March 17

Get your Irish on with the Orange Constant this St. Patrick’s Day. The Orange Constant will be rocking Barrelhouse South with The Norm and Groove Town Assault at 10 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day. Barrelhouse South is located at 125 W. Congress St. in Savannah.

Saturday, March 19

Airbound Entertainment is kicking off its Road to Sweetwater 420 Fest Concert Series with this medley of Americana, funk, electronic, and rock music. Bands Maradeen, Sumilan, Groove Town Assault, Dead 27s, CBDB and Dank will be playing at Barrelhouse South. Doors open at noon and music starts at 2 p.m. This concert is free.

The Road to Sweetwater 420 concert series is a series that will take place over five weeks from March to April leading up to the Sweetwater 420 Festival. The Sweetwater 420 Festival is a music festival that will run from Apr. 22 to Apr. 24 at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

The Orange Constant

The Orange Constant, aka TOC, is an alternative rock band that infuses 70’s flair into their music. TOC released their debut EP in March 2014 and followed the EP with their first album, Time to Go, released on June 19, 2015. Many of the band’s songs showcase cheerful-sounding guitar riffs, soothing vocals and upbeat drums. Songs such as “Good Intention” demonstrate this, whereas songs like “House of Shutters” demonstrate a less upbeat, mellower sound from the band.

TOC established their roots in Statesboro, later relocating to Athens, Georgia. Despite the move, students can still catch The Orange Constant when they visit town on January 14. They will be playing at South City Tavern, at 10 p.m. South City Tavern is located at 1830 Chandler Road, by Paulson Stadium.

Those Cats

Those Cats is a soul and funk band that blends multiple vocalists and several instruments, including a horn. Those Cats premiered their first album, Something More Specific, in March 2014, and followed that with the release of Eyes Up on April 28, 2015. The band’s songs range from the light-hearted sound of “Pancakes” to the more serious sound of “Stone Cold Hustler”.

Students can catch this funky band on January 15 at Eagle Creek Brewery at 6 p.m., or Gnat’s Landing at 10 p.m. the same night. Eagle Creek Brewery is located at 106 Savannah Avenue, next to Sugar Magnolia Bakery. Gnat’s Landing is on the intersection of Tilman Road and South Main Street.

PIANO.

PIANO. is a rock band that has a bluesy, unashamedly loud sound. PIANO.’s first album, Sick Bones, debuted on November 13, 2015. The band’s signature sound shows in songs including “Backdoor Bay”, which features a fast-paced melody combined with a guitar solo and catchy lyrics. The band will be bringing their unique sound to Dingus Magee’s on January 21 at 10 p.m. Dingus Magee’s is at 3 Georgia Avenue, right across the street from Zaxby’s and Centennial Place.

Solomon’s Ghost

Solomon’s Ghost is a progressive metal band whose music combines intense instrumental parts and varied vocal dynamics. They released their first album, Singularity, on June 13, 2015. Their song “The Nameless” off of the album has a fair amount of clean vocals, while “Solace” displays more of the screaming vocals characteristic of the band’s sound.

Solomon’s Ghost will play at Bigshow’s with Isotopes, Aionios, and Star Period Star on January 30, at 7:30 p.m. There is a cover charge of five dollars for the show. Bigshow’s is at 200 Lanier Drive, across from Paulson Stadium.

For a complete list of January concerts in Statesboro, visit Airbound Entertainment and Coastal Rock Savannah.

Alec Gulledge, the lead guitarist for Awaken the Dawn, met the band’s first drummer, Kyle Smith, through their church. Gulledge and Smith decided to start a metal band and recruited Taylor Moats to be the vocalist. Matt Goss, one of Awaken the Dawn’s rhythm guitarists, entered the mix when he started jamming with the band.

Then, in 2012, Taylor Moats moved to Milledgeville. Isaiah Foster, the current vocalist, replaced Moats because his brother, Taylor Foster, was Awaken the Dawn’s bassist. With Isaiah joining, the band took on a darker, heavier sound.

Goss and Taylor Foster ended up going to school in Atlanta. Goss is still in the band, but Taylor Foster left. Currently, Tony Mendez, former vocalist of Pridemeat, is Awaken the Dawn’s bassist. This past summer, Ryan Merica was added as a third guitar player after talking and getting to know Gulledge. Josh Keeney, former drummer of Pridemeat, will replace Kyle Smith.

Alec Gulledge named a few key influences on the band’s sound. “Vildhjarta is the biggest influence hands down, and after that would be Opeth, as far as the dynamic and break down side of the music. Impending Doom is definitely an influence we had when we started writing.” Gulledge also listed In the Midst of Lions and As I Lay Dying as guitar influences.

On Awaken the Dawn’s Facebook page, there is a Psalm posted that refers back to the band’s name (Psalm 108:2-6). “We’re all Christians, but maybe not a Christian band, per se. But we definitely have a Christian message. We just don’t fall into the stereotype,” said Gulledge. 

Quick Band Facts

Band Name: Awaken the Dawn Genre: progressive metal/deathcore From: Savannah, Georgia Isaiah Foster- lead vocalist Alec Gulledge- lead guitarist Matt Goss- rhythm guitarist Ryan Merica- rhythm guitarist Josh Keeney- drummer Tony Mendez- bassist Facebook profiles: Isaiah Foster, Alec Gulledge, Matt Goss, Ryan Merica, Josh Keeney, and Tony Tbone Meatsteak Instagram profiles: izaya_foster, alec_atd, captryanmerica, matt_goss

Foster credited the band’s message as one of the reasons he joined Awaken the Dawn. He still would have joined the band to help his brothers out, but the Christian message helped convince him to join.

Gulledge said that the band writes music in a couple different ways, whether it is starting with guitar riffs or lyrical ideas that Isaiah has. 

“We want our music to be organic. It should feel natural, have an even flow, and not feel forced. A lot of things a lot of metal bands are doing is all technicality and how fast you can play. We’re trying to get back into that old school, raw emotion and heaviness”, Gulledge said.

These goals are something the band is working on to expand upon with its new members and new music they are writing for the next album. Awaken the Dawn should finish working on their album by February, and are planning for a spring release.

“It’s a concept album of seven or so songs. We are recording it with David Cooke in our studio (mine and his). Cooke is the same guy who recorded Pridemeat’s album,” Gulledge said. Foster described Statesboro’s music scene- yes, Statesboro has a music scene- as thriving.

“The music scene, no matter where it’s at, brings everyone together that likes a certain thing, like heavy music, or other bands like Any Otherwise, Between Symmetries, or Guns Out at Sundown, the not-so-heavy bands.” Awaken the Dawn’s goal is to bring people together within the scene so people can be together and enjoy each other’s company.

One of the ways Foster hopes to accomplish this is through Troy Fest. Troy Fest is a charity show for suicide awareness that was started after a close friend of Awaken the Dawn’s committed suicide two years ago. In addition to the event recognizing their friend Foster said,  “It was also a way of saying there are people in this scene that have your back, no matter how low you get. The music scene should be a family and you should never get to that point.”

This sense of community can be highlighted in the reasons why Awaken the Dawn likes playing music. Gulledge and Foster both said how great it was to be in a band doing what they love with the people they love.

“Playing shows and meeting new people and having a chance, one-on-one, to explain why you’re in music is one of the biggest things that keeps me going on a daily basis,” Gulledge said.

In the next five years, Awaken the Dawn wants to be touring and playing everywhere. “We’d like to make something out of it [touring] to where we don’t have to stop and maybe one day, this band will pay our bills. Maybe not, maybe it’ll just be a hobby and something we do two or three weeks out of the year. Either way, we’re going to let it ride and see what comes out of it,” Gulledge said.

Awaken the Dawn has experienced several lineup changes, as well as a shift from a lighter to a more intense, darker metal sound. That has not stopped the band, though.  Awaken the Dawn’s members are continuing to work on their album and forge a “New Dawn” by melting faces far and wide at the shows they play.

Awaken the Dawn can be contacted via their band’s Facebook profile. Gulledge said people can also follow them personally on Facebook or Instagram. For those interested,  Awaken the Dawn will be playing on Halloween at Big Show’s Burgers on Lanier Drive. The show is all ages and starts at 7:30 p.m. There is a five dollar cover charge.

Photos provided by Awaken the Dawn and Timothy Walls