There are many women who are prominent in music today, but it can be difficult to find bands backed exclusively by girls. Extra Celestial proves that females can form their own groups and not need any guys helping back them, but even more that, they prove that girls rock.
Over this past summer, Extra Celestial formed out of students from Steinbrenner as well as Cambridge Christian School. Warrior sophomores Devyn Dacus and Caitlin McHale met Casey Banales and Annabella Vivero through Jim Chambers Music Box Academy.
They describe themselves as “The Breakfast Club” of bands due to their fluid genre choices. At their concerts they perform covers of things from all eras and genres, from 80’s pop to alternative rock.
“We try to combine all kinds of genres,” said McHale. “We all have different genres that we all like, so we try to let everyone get their song in.”
Dacus and Vivero were taking lessons in guitar and drums, respectively, when owner Jim Chambers suggested an idea of an all girl band to them. They then went searching for a lead singer and bassist. Chambers found Banales when she was performing with Vivero. Dacus found McHale through Instagram.
“I just saw a picture of Caitlin playing bass on Instragram,” said Dacus. “It was just like ‘oh here’s this girl who plays bass! She’s really good,’ so I reached out, and she came out to play with us.”
They now are all currently in the band formation class at Chambers Academy, practicing once or twice a week for two hours.
“They draw a lot of people,” said Chambers. “There are so few girl bands in the band ecosphere. What these girls are doing is different, and stellar. They’re very good at what they do.”
The band’s first gig was at Red Star Rock Bar where they played everything from Joan Jett to Elle King to Adele.
“I went to their first one,” said sophomore Samuel Ake. “They were pretty good, offering a lot of cool covers from all over.”
Their second gig at Skipper’s Smokehouse led to an increase in following with over 300 people in attendance.
“When I went to see them at Skipper’s Smokehouse, their band was amazing,” said sophomore Lyla Fessler.
The energy and how the band provides unique twists on their covers is what Fessler points to as their appeal.
“The hour leading up to our set was terrifying,” said McHale. “As soon as we were up on stage and I saw everyone’s faces, it just kind of went away and all I could think about was putting everything into our concert. Once we finished the first song, everyone was cheering and that carried me through the rest of the set.”
They’re going to work on originals, and definitely have plans to release a single in December.
“We’ve put together a couple progressions here and there,” said McHale.
“I have a bunch of songs that I made for fun,” said Banales. “We are going to see if some of these we could make something out of.”
The band members all have a common reason for making music, as it offers a release and allows for the members to be in their natural element.
“I decided to be in a band because music was always something that was very integrated into my life and I’ve always wanted to preform live,” said Dacus. “Making music to me is kind of like seeing your favorite person, or going to someplace you call home. It feels natural and has that effect on you, and it’s special to me.”
Ariel Cox // Centerspread Editor
