On the way: Home

Ran on Tuesday, June 19. 2007

On the way: Home
Tour brings Eau Claire native, his Texas-based band to House of Rock

By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff

After moving to Texas and joining a band, Eau Claire native Keith Killoren is returning to play with his globe-trotting group, The Drams, Thursday at House of Rock.
Playing concerts in Minneapolis, Green Bay and Chicago, The Drams always skipped his hometown because of time constraints, Killoren said.
"I felt bad I didn't get to play in my hometown," he said. "It's kind of fun to play in Eau Claire."
Killoren added it "will be good to see my old peeps."
Killoren graduated from North High School and UW-Eau Claire. He delved into music at booth schools.
In high school he participated in concert, jazz and marching bands. Former North High School band director Howard Lehman described Killoren as "one of a kind ... most often jovial and pleasant."
Killoren played the saxophone in high school but experimented with other instruments too. He now plays bass.
"I didn't focus on my sax too much," he said. "In high school I was a little too into guitar."
While at UW-Eau Claire, he started Three Liter Hit. Killoren was the singer, songwriter and guitarist. After a stressful fall semester and a long winter, Killoren left his college band to move to Texas.
"It was just something about Texas that appealed to me," he said.
The weather, the ladies and forming a new band were factors in the move, he said.
Eventually, he met up with a group of men and formed The Drams. Killoren described the group's sound as traditional rock 'n' roll with Neil Young and The Replacements influences.
Two years ago The Drams played their first gig at the large music festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Since then, they have been touring America and Europe.
The Drams have released a new album, "Jubilee Dive," and plan to record again this fall to release an album next spring.