This IS your dad’s band - The Vinyl Countdown by Lola Jahant

Throughout my high school experience, I have had the privilege of being close friends with Grace Newhouse. Not only did I get to have an amazing friend to tackle high school with, but I’ve been fortunate enough to accompany her to watch a rock band that her dad is a part of: The Vinyl Countdown.

The Vinyl Countdown is a local rock band, titling themselves as “a tribute to arena rock”. Of the six main band members, two are local University Park residents and fathers.

“We all represent different life stages, but all of us are committed to the band as a hobby,” rhythm guitarist Dave Kroencke said. “We do prioritize it, but since we’re doing it for fun there’s a lot of flexibility and understanding.”

Including the understanding that the band members give each other, they also hold close relationships with each other, creating a bond that allows for fluidity with other life obligations.

“We call ourselves band brothers and we really mean it,” lead guitarist Russell Newhouse said. “Having two practices a week in the form of a gig is how you get tight as a band.”

Although many of the band members have left and been swapped out in a sense over the years, the group has been together since their first public show at Barley House in August 2016. Since then, the band has continued to play at Barley House and at a number of varying venues and events including Lava Cantina, the Dallas Arboretum, and Choctaw Casino.

“Our highlight show so far was being the headlining act for the ‘City of Dallas Reliant Light Up the Holidays’ event at AT&T Performing Arts center” Newhouse said. “[The event was for] a couple thousand people with the mayor introducing us.”

One thing that makes this garage band unique is their ability to use similar sounds and beats from different songs to create a transition from one song to another. The band commonly mashes together the songs “Enter Sandman” by Metallica and “Separate Ways” by Journey.

“We really try and do something interesting with the songs and transition from one song to another in an interesting way,” lead singer Justin Whitehead said. “It’s not just the songs, it’s the arrangements too.”

In addition to their work with The Vinyl Countdown, three of the band members also participate in a separate band called Couples Skate. Couples Skate is a 70s, 80s pop, disco and yacht rock band.

For morning information on Vinyl Countdown click here.