NOLA preforming.
Phil Earhart is currently finishing up his last semester student teaching at Thorton High School in Harvey, Illinois. The 22-year-old aspires to teach high school students when he graduates, with his degree in history education. But Earhart’s students may be surprised to learn that he plays guitar and piano, as well as being the lead singer in the local band NOLA.
NOLA was formed about eight years ago, when Earhart was in high school in his hometown of Orland Park, Illinois. He was good friends with current band members Ben De Biasio and Mike O’Meara, who were in a funk band called “The Super Champions.” De Biasio explained that their band needed a front man and Earhart needed a band, which is how NOLA was born.
When asked what genre of music NOLA falls under, Earhart explained that the band has been trying to develop a specific sound for years.
“As our taste in music changes, our music changes, and that is the equation for how we sound today,” Earhart stated. “We try not to ‘sound’ too much like any other bands, although I’m sure we do sometimes. I’d like to hear what our fans think our sound is, because that is all that really matters.”
The band is currently comprised of three other members besides Earhart: Ben De Biasio, Mike O’Meara and Sean Kimzey. NOLA competed in the Battle of The Bands and won five consecutive events in high school, through which the band gained notoriety.
But there have been obstacles the band has had to overcome throughout the years. The main hurdle that NOLA has had to deal with, was band members attending different colleges all over the state. The band was accustomed to practicing whenever and wherever, as they all lived in the same town; but due to the distance practice became limited.
Phil Earhart and Ben De Biasio singing.
The members of NOLA did not let the distance hinder their livelihood. Instead, they looked at the separation as a time to write and grow as individuals.
“We wrote a lot of music using the Internet, sending each other ideas via sound recordings,” Earhart explained. “We were writing songs 200 miles apart and it was pretty cool. I was writing lyrics and playing piano and guitar parts over a song, that was written in Chicago and sent to my computer.”
Each summer, the band looked forward to being in the same hometown to write and play their music. Earhart said it is always a special feeling for the members of NOLA to be back in Orland Park and getting back into the grove.
Bass player Ben De Biasio acknowledges, that it is challenging for musicians to force yourself to practice when you are alone. But he believes the distance was actually beneficial for NOLA.
“It basically forced us to make the most of the time we had together, and we were forced to be efficient with our time” De Biasio stated. “Everything happens for a reason, so now, I think we are all looking forward only.”
Of course over the past eight years, the band has also had to deal with the loss of band members due to creative reasons or availability for practices and shows. The band agrees that the current NOLA members mesh because they all get along and complement each other in different ways.
Guitarist Mike O'Meara and the rest of NOLA playing a show.
“Mike and Ben have been in this thing since the beginning, and they’ve become more than just band mates for me; they are great friends” Earhart stated. “Sean is a great musician and he really caught our ear when we heard him play while looking for a new drummer. He is a great friend and a key asset to this band.”
NOLA has recorded three albums, the most current being “Love by Proxy,” and performs at festivals and venues all around the Chicagoland area. The band would love to land a record deal in the future, but is not motivated by money. They would much rather increase their fan base, which would allow more people to hear their music.
Guitarist Mike O’Meara believes NOLA’s greatest accomplishment is never being content with where the band is.
“We’ve experienced spurts of small successes with certain approaches we have taken,” O’Meara said. “But we all know that we still haven’t found exactly what our full potential is. Staying hungry for that search is in my opinion our greatest accomplishment.”
De Biasio and O’Meara have the same opinion when it comes to lugging gear-that they would like to have someone else carry it for them some day. If that wish ever comes true, they will consider themselves luckier than they already do.
As for Earhart he stated, “I’d like to play music as long as I am alive. This is something that will never go away because it is fun, interesting, and a challenge.”
By: Catherine Durkin
