Music Profile
Eli Gertler spits rhymes at a local Rise Up concert.
February 10, 2009 • David Hansmann
Filed under Uncategorized
As the high school underground revolution grows, so does the love and compassion for music in the hearts of the band known as Walter and the Chronkites.
Walter and the Chronkites is a blues, jazz, hip hop, and experimental band inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan, Atmosphere, and Beethoven.
The band, whose music may be heard at any local house party, includes seniors Eli Gertler, Harlan Porterfield, Skyler Keesling Oatman, and junior Petey Jones.
The band, started in mid October, continues to compose their own music, as well as covers.
Though they’ve only been playing together for a few months, each member has been artists of their craft for many years.
Gertler has been writing lyrics and playing guitar for the past four years and writes mostly about politics, the world, stereotypes, and situations.
Porterfield has been playing both the guitar and the piano for more than seven years, and Jones has been playing guitar for the last four years.
Oatman, however, originally joined the band as the hype/lyricist man. It wasn’t until many failed attempts and auditions for a drummer, that Oatman picked up the sticks and started banging on the drums. He has become quite an accomplished percussionist and continues to play for Walter and the Chronkites.
Walter and the who you may ask? Walter Cronkite was the former CBS evening news anchor who past away years ago. When asked why they had picked the name, nothing but shrugs came with the reply “ It just turned out that way.”
Though the band seems formal, they are known for their uplifting sounds.
Over a short lunch, I dinned with the local band and asked them key questions about their music and inspirations.
Q: Why do you play as a band?
A: Skyler K.O To attract womans.
Q: How do you right your music?
A: Harlan Porterfield. Once were all inspired as a group, we try to think very hard with one another. We form a subconscious connection and it’s like we’re all communicating without words.
Q: Where do you see the band in a year?
A: Eli Gertler. Hopefully, maybe, somewhat together, perhaps in Portland, actually, technically.
Practicing in a basement, Walter and the Chronkites find very little time to come together as one. However, the time they share together does not go to waste.
“We’re all so busy with other extra curricular activities that we rarely find a time where we can all jam together,” Eli Gertler.
With Porterfield on the basketball court, Oatman on stage, Jones on his X- Box, and Gertler planning the next assembly as our faithful student council president, their schedules are constantly full. However, despite the conflicting schedules, The Chronkites still persevere. They have played venues all across town and are very well connected with the elite team working with Rise Up as well as other artists in Bend such as Person People.
Walter and the Chronkites’ music can be found on their band website on myspace. Recordings are mainly done solely by Gertler on his laptop, otherwise their recordings are demos and have yet to be professionally sounded.
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