Military relatives part of local band

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Aaron Hochman-Zimmerman
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  They play what you know and they play what you like, and isn’t that really the point?

CORE 47, of local fame, is fueled by performers with direct ties to Dyess.

Ashley Anderson, guitar, is the wife of 9th Bomb Squadron pilot Capt. Tobin Anderson; and Jeremy James, bass guitar, is the son of retired B-1 maintainer Master Sgt. Dennis James, 7th Component Maintenance Squadron. Cliff Owen, lead guitar, and Matt Parker, drums, round out the foursome.

The band flows with a comfortable, alternative rock stride. It plays what its crowd wants to hear, but rarely strays from what the radio has already proven successful.

“Radio-friendly alternative rock covers” is how Mr. Parker described the band’s sound. “We just like to play it,” he said. “We can play something everybody likes.”

The band members, like their music, do not have wild aspirations, but play together just for the fun of it.

“I’m not out begging for a record deal,” said Mrs. Anderson, who is the most active song writer of the four, but keeps what she describes as her “broken-hearted love songs” for private use only.

Mr. Parker summed up the band’s higher purpose: “Make some money, have some fun.” he said.

Mrs. Anderson feels their music resonates because they choose songs that “people can relate to from a particular time in their lives.”

The four typically make the rounds of Abilene’s small venues and have attracted a following, said Tech. Sgt. Dave Rogers, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron defensive avionics technician. Sergeant Rogers is a friend of the band and CORE 47’s T-shirt designer.

“It’s usually pretty fun; military guys and girls seem to get into it,” Mr. Parker said.

“A lot of the crowd is Air Force,” Mrs. Anderson said. “They get rowdy. We like that.”

The four individually show talent and even blend well together, but are hampered, like so many bands, by the realities of the working world.

“We all have day jobs and have no place to practice. We’re just kind of going with it right now,” said Mr. James, who described the band members as “weekend warriors” who practice “at every show.”

The band, which has been together for two and a half years, is impressed with itself for lasting longer than many cover bands.

Conflicting personalities or taste in music have never made serious trouble for CORE 47.

“We don’t turn down many songs,” Mr. Owen said of the band’s play list.

“Except the Jeremy ones,” Mrs. Anderson said with a smile.

Each of the four spoke about how beneficial it has been to play in a band and share their talents with each other and fans.

“There’s no better experience than being in a band,” Mrs. Anderson said for the benefit of anyone who may be learning to play by themselves. “I’ve gotten a lot better,” she said, since joining the band.

The origin of the name CORE 47 is closely guarded.

“It’s kind of a stupid story,” Mr. Parker said before refusing to tell it. “Mystery sounds better than the truth.”

They do not have stars in their eyes over selling out a stadium or have grand plans for the future.

For now, they said, they just intend to keep playing.

When asked about the future, Mrs. Anderson said “You don’t think about it when you’re doing what you love.”