Orpheus

A reggae/ska style in a perfect blend of showmanship and camaraderie. It entertained, consoled and led the community on a musical rollercoaster. - Christopher Kunz

Nine-member band of West De Pere students is drawing raves
By Dawn Ver Haagh • The De Pere Journal • February 4, 2010

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Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Next Page1| 2Previous PageThey are not just another group of kids playing instruments.




Although that is what these kids do, the new band on the block brings with it a passion and love for its music, its friendship and the entertainment it provides.

The band is Orpheus.
Deriving from a random pick out of the dictionary, the name sits with the group perfectly, as Orpheus was a poet and musician in Greek mythology who had the power to move things with his music.

The nine West De Pere High School juniors who compose the ska band have started on a strong foot after forming only a few months ago last fall.

The band members are Chris Amond, Kyle Battle, David Dykema, Adam Fulwiler, Zak Kocken, Josh Lemke, Michael "Mo" Obenauf, John Stupka and Gabe Valladares.
On how the group began, Dykema, who plays saxophone, said, "Me and Kyle were listening to a lot of ska music. All of our friends play horn and all of the right instruments."

They are all best friends. They have all been in the award-winning West De Pere High School band or some musical association.

Now, they have created their own critically acclaimed collection of young, up-and-coming musicians.
In October, the boys gathered their parents, invited them to a house and played for them.

"At first, we all sat and looked at each other and then thought, 'Hey, they are pretty good,'" said Chris Battle, father of Kyle, the band's lead singer. "We then started buying equipment and got serious about (them) performing, and off they went.

"It has now taken on a life of its own. There are nine of them, and they are loving it."

Orpheus played its first gig at House of Valdar on Green Bay's east side.

Most recently, at the end of January, after spotting the event on Craig's List, Orpheus was one of 11 bands to play in the Battle of the Bands at The Grand in Lawrence. Orpheus, the youngest group on the bill, drew the biggest raves.

"We got first place and won 2,000 dollars," Kyle Battle said. "We paid off our equipment and our parents."
"And, we each got 100 dollars after that to spend," said Valladares, who plays ukulele.

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Orpheus aims to perform to its highest potential and provide nonstop entertainment for the crowd, playing the ska music that intermixes rhythm and blues with jazz and calypso.

The band gets its inspiration and plays songs from the boys' favorite bands, including Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, Less Than Jake, Sublime and several more.
Orpheus also has an original tune called "Miss Adventure," which it will be recording this month, along with "Keasbey Nights," a hit from Streetlight Manifesto, through Dorsey Entertainment and OpenwindO Recording Studio in Hortonville.

On the "work" end of the band, one can find Battle, Amond and Valladares writing the music to the songs, with Battle and Valladares taking it a step further to also write the lyrics.

"The drummer (Lemke) writes his own drum parts," Battle said laughing. "We are trying to write as many originals as we can to add to our show."

As far as its cover songs, Orpheus tries to personalize them.
"They can play cover songs, but they take them and make them their own," Chris Battle said.
Amy Fulwiler, mother of a band member, acts as band manager and books shows at local venues for Orpheus.

"They are incredibly talented people, and their enthusiasm is remarkable," Fulwiler said. "They are very supportive of each other."
The boys practice after school and on weekends one to two times a week, or more depending on whether they have an upcoming show, and rotate between houses.

"We switch it up because there are nine of them making a lot of noise and eating you out of house and home," Chris Battle said with a laugh. "There are nine sets of parents who are as equally excited."

In a small basement room at the Dykema home during a recent practice, equipment littered the area and laughs filled the spaces around them. All members of Orpheus emitted a passion for what was to happen next.



The emerging ska band Orpheus is comprised of West De Pere High School students, seated from left, Kyle Battle and Gabe Valladares and, standing from left, David Dykema, John Stupka, Chris Amond, Josh Lemke, Zak Kocken, Michael "Mo" Obenauf and Adam Fulwiler. Tara Day/The De Pere Journal
- De Pere Journal