‘Tag! You’re It’

Band members Austin Burrows (from left), Ethan Krieger, Seth Woolley, Ethan Kelly, Kyle Regal, and Sam Nelson (in front) gather together in Nelson’s home for a band practice. The band’s next big performance is at Nelson Chapel on March 21. (Photos by Emiley Brand)

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PRINCETON — There is no lack of talent, enthusiasm and ambition for Tag! You’re It, a high school Christian/metalcore band from Princeton. This group of young men has diligently worked hard the past year to establish themselves as a group of musicians who are worthy of listening. Their work has paid off as the group has gained local fame and admiration from a number of teenagers in the area, and as the members hope for continued success.

Today’s Tag! You’re It band has grown tremendously since its creation. In the fall of 2008, drummer Sam Nelson and guitarist Ethan Krieger intended to create a group to play for the Princeton High School talent show in the spring of 2009. For the show, guitarists Kyle Regal and Austin Burrows were also recruited. By the summer of 2009, the group became more dedicated and decided to perform at Above Main (a venue above Johnson Carpet Shoppe in Princeton) in the summer of 2009, where they picked up Seth Woolley on vocals. In fact, Above Main was Seth’s first practice and performance with the guys.

“I didn’t know I could scream or play keyboard, but when they asked me to perform, I couldn’t say no,” Woolley said.

What is the screaming that Woolley was unsure as to whether he could do? As a metalcore band, Tag! plays harder rock music, faster tempos, all with a distorted style.

“There is more screaming and less singing” Regal said.

Screaming involves a use of one’s vocal cords in a different way then typically expected of musicians, but in today’s day and age, this style of singing has become more popular than ever. Woolley said screaming, just like singing, requires an intense amount of effort and energy, and a multitudinous amount of technical aspects are involved in the art. This style is similar to styles of famous groups such as “Underoath,” “Saosin” and “The Devil Wears Prada” — all who are idols to Tag! You’re It.

The rebellious metalcore genre is generally considered dark and depressing and appeals to people who, on average, are between 15 and 25 years old, which makes creating metalcore extremely appealing to Tag! You’re It.

As Krieger explains it, “Bands in this genre are depressing and negative. We are trying to have a positive influence through our music on those who normally listen to such a sad genre.”

Burrows further notes most of the band’s members have experienced depression or anxiety problems themselves, so giving hope to those who are down is extremely important to the group.

Lyrically, Tag! You’re It considers themselves Christian, and they hope to be a positive influence on their audience through the words they create.

“We are a contradiction,” Woolley said. “Metalcore is depressing but we are light-hearted and fun, especially through our lyrics.”

Even the name of the band suggests the playfully entertaining vibe the band hopes to portray.

“Other bands don’t present themselves well through their lyrics or while performing, but we try to set a good example in both aspects of our band. Our goal is to spread Jesus’ newsletter to our audience,” says Krieger.

As with most bands, practicing and performing are of huge importance. Practices are held three times a week in Nelson’s home and every single day for a week before a performance. Tag! has two different kinds of practices — songwriting sessions and playing practices. While Woolley and Nelson are the main lyricists of the group, each member writes his own instrumental part for their music.

“Even though we get loud and sometimes rowdy (a snare drum was once thrown down the stairs), my parents are OK with it.” Nelson said. “A big thanks to Julie and Aaron Nelson!”

In fact, all of the band members parents are extremely supportive of the group; Krieger’s father, David Krieger, basically acts as a manager.

Tag! You’re It has had the opportunity to perform locally at various venues in the past year. Their most recent show on Feb. 20 at the Cancun in Ladd seemed to be the band’s favorite performance. Nine bands performed from 5:30 p.m. to midnight, and there was an estimated 200 to 300 people who came to see the musicians. Because of the sheer number in the audience and the overall atmosphere of the show Tag! was really excited to perform. After their traditional all-day, group-bonding session, praying before going on stage, and compulsively tuning their instruments, the group calmed the nerves and took the stage.

“There is a total high involved in performing, and I slipped into an alternate reality just focusing on our music” said lead guitarist Regal.

For Woolley, the performance allowed him to become a whole other person, the kind of person that is totally different from what people perceive him as in every day life.

The adrenaline-rush the group feels when performing is something for them to experience again in the near future. On March 21, Tag! will perform at the Nelson Chapel in Princeton; the band is tentatively going on a 10-day tour this summer in Illinois, Ohio and Indiana.

Music practice for the boys is not just limited to their time spent together working on their own music or performing, as each member is or has previously been involved in some form of music lesson from an outside source. Nelson is involved in the Princeton High School Band, jazz band and percussion ensemble; Woolley is active in the percussion ensemble, vocal and piano lessons; Krieger is involved in Princeton High School choir, Star Spangled Singers, Show Corporation, and Madrigals; Burrows takes piano classes through the high school; and Kelly and Regal were former members of the Princeton High School Band.

After the summer, although all members except Burrows and Regal will be Princeton High School graduates, the group plans to stay together.

“We can come home from college, since we are all attending in-state colleges, to write music and practice,” Woolley said, adding he believes most of the members leaving Princeton gives great opportunity to the band because they can book more shows and make friends with other musicians.

Whatever is in store for Tag! You’re It is unknown to the members at this point, but they have managed to create a locally successful band that sends a positive message to its audience.

To listen to Tag! You’re It or get more information about the group visit www.myspace.com/TagYoureItTheBand.

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