Local Band Dominates Deep Ellum Music Scene

           Boom, tss, bum, bum, tss. The booming sound of drums, the low murmur of an electric bass, and the melodic strums of an electric guitar dominated the empty suburban air on what was supposed to be a quiet Saturday afternoon. Every corner of the cluttered garage, turned band practice venue, seemed to vibrate with each beat of the rhythmic drums. The music was reminiscent of classic rock groups such as Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin, but with a new age twist. A unique sound came from various colored floor petals, used to give a special effect to the band’s instruments and alter their pitch.

 

            High school senior Jackson Douglas and his band, The Ends, were in the middle of their daily practice, or jam session, as he called it. The practices go on anywhere from two to five hours, during which they practice original songs as well as collaborate over set-lists. Usually, a lead singer or band member can be identified instantly, however each of the band members seemed to compliment and highlight each other perfectly.

 

            “We got started last year,” Douglas, 17, said as his freckle dusted fingers subconsciously drummed on the surface of his denim clad leg. “I’ve always wanted to be in a band and the only other guys I knew in my grade who played music were Carlos and Santi so here we are.”

 

            Douglas and his band-members, Santiago Lara and Carlos Echeverria, describe themselves as suburban teenagers trying to make it in a local scene. Although Douglas prioritizes music and his bandmates, he said he has no plans of pursuing music as a legitimate career and has no intention of studying music in college. Doulas says he plays in a band purely as a form of expression, or a side hobby, but does not consider being in a band a career. For him, education comes first.

 

            “I want to major in literature, so I figure I can get better at writing song lyrics through that,” Douglas said. “Music is fun for me right now, it’s like a relaxing hobby me and my friends can bond through.” 

 

            Although Douglas has found his niche in the alternative and rock scene, his music roots were originally imbedded in Hip-Hop.

 

            “Towards the end of my freshman year I got really into rap and started my own SoundCloud account,” Douglas said, his face turning a light shade of pink as he cracked a grin. “But that didn’t work out, obviously. I liked writing my own lyrics and being able to experiment but [Hip-Hop] just wasn’t for me.”

 

            His older brother Austin Douglas, 20, disagrees with his younger sibling’s decision to pursue literature in the future, and instead wishes his brother would pursue music.

 

“He’s really talented,” the older brother said, smiling when shown videos of the band’s latest performance at the Curtain Club in Dallas. “Jackson taught himself how to play bass when he was in elementary school through YouTube tutorials, but I feel like could never do that because it takes a lot of discipline and practice.”

 

If not for their last names, one would not be able to see the family resemblance between the two brothers. They were almost complete opposites of each other, one having fiery red hair and the other sporting a mane of tightly wound auburn curls.

 

            “I knew guys in high school who claimed they were musicians but never wrote a song in their life,” the older sibling said. “But [The Ends] write all of their lyrics and music from scratch and make it look easy.”

 

            In just over a year, The Ends have booked three shows and competed in their local talent show at McKinney High School. Their recognition comes from both encouragement from family and friends, and with the help of their new promoter.

 

            John Williams, a Dallas native and cofounder of Neuropsych Entertainment, said he had been keeping an eye on the band since he first heard them practicing three houses down from Douglas.

 

            “I didn’t want the boys to perform so early on in their careers because I really wanted to see them grow,” Williams said after readjusting his vintage Texas Rangers baseball cap. “But I know they take their music seriously, so I’ve been offering them some opening slots for a few bands I promote.”

 

            While Williams usually focuses on promoting punk and heavy metal bands, he has made an exception for the alternative music group. Williams said the band’s first gig at the Curtain Club pulled in a crowd of roughly 75 people, which is uncommon for a local band’s first performance.

 

“I would’ve killed to have someone, anyone, listen to my music when I was their age,” Williams let out a booming laugh. “But these guys have a strong support system, and I think that’s the key to success in the music or entertainment industry.”

 

Even though The Ends are slowly but surely building momentum by performing at venues in Deep Ellum and local talent shows, Douglas still prioritizes his education over a music career. He plans to attend Collin Community College this upcoming fall.

 

“I guess I want something to fall back on,” Douglas said. “Like, I want to be able to actually get a job if I decide I don’t want to be in a band in ten years or if it just doesn’t work out.”

 

However, Douglas admits playing in front of a crowd is incomparable to playing in a cluttered garage. The band is currently planning on expanding their venues to house shows in Denton such as House of God, or Bean Cave due to the demand for alternative rock groups in and around the Denton area, as well as the appreciation for music and art culture.

 

            “[Playing in front of a crowd] is the best feeling ever,” Douglas said, pushing his black rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose. “But it’s not the most important thing. Getting to hang out and do what I love with my two best friends is, even if it does sound super corny.”

 

            The Ends have an upcoming show on April 27 at 8 p.m. at the Curtain club in Dallas, and have plans to record music for the first time during the summer of 2018.