Like reels of home movie films, the band of the same name chronicles not only the growth of a person, but also the growth of what five musicians completely invested in their craft might create.
Kate Teague, with support from her friends and fellow musicians Jean Marie Lalande and Shane Prewitt, became part of her first band during her last semester at the University of Mississippi. Lalande and Prewitt had seen Teague’s solo shows, and they began experimenting around February of last year. Teague on vocals and guitar, along with Prewitt (drums) and Lalande (Saxophone), laid the groundwork of what is now Reels.
The threesome, in need of a bigger sound, eventually added Hershey Tate as a guitarist.
Photo by: Timothy Steenwyk
The last addition to the band was Lalande’s roommate, Jeremiah Wills. Wills was experimenting with music alone when Lalande noticed his talent and asked him to play bass for Reels— that is, after Wills actually acquired a bass. (He had sold his own before pursuing his graduate degree.)
On May 8, one day before Teague’s graduation, came Reels’ metaphorical graduation into Oxford’s music scene. The fledgling band played their first set at the Cats Purring Dude Ranch.
“It was a three song show. It was really disappointing for the crowd,” Prewitt said.
As it turned out, three songs wasn’t enough, but the experience left the band motivated to continue making music.
“It was like a taste,” Teague said. “And it made people want to hear more.”
Over the summer, Teague added more song lyrics to their repertoire; each member crafted their own additions. Reels prepared to record their first EP at Tweed Recording that fall.
They spent a few days in the studio producing an EP made up of what were, at the time, three of the group’s newest songs.
A theme of sorts became apparent in the EP, “The growth of a person.”
“You’re (Kate) just being open about like, ‘this is my transition through life in my twenties,’” Prewitt said. “If there’s a theme that’s what it is.”
Perhaps this is in part because of Teague’s honest songwriting and soulful, raw and controlled delivery.
“When I write a song, it becomes one of our songs… These are my songs, so it obviously shows how I’ve evolved,” said Teague.
Not only is a personal transformation taking place within Reels’ lyrics, but also a growth in songwriting, especially as other band members contribute. In one example, Lalande, a native of France, worked with Teague on the French lyrics in their song “Secrets.”
“Even on Kate’s songs, we all write our parts, and a lot of times we’ll change the format of the song, add a chorus or repeat something more times, so we’re all definitely involved in the writing process,” Tate said.
By late Nov. 2015, Reels’ first EP was on Bandcamp. Now, almost a year after initial experimentation, the group has coalesced even more, and their sound is making a transition from an indie-fied 50s/60s sound to something much more indie-pop oriented– with a jazzy touch from Lalande’s saxophone. New songs like the slightly angst-y “Cool Enough,” and even more poppy “Low Life,” (a song Teague wrote on Oxford’s most recent snow day,) show not only Reels’ metamorphosis (even since their EP in November), but also their range as artists.
“Kate Teague and the Hate League,” the still popular “former” band name has been a running joke amongst the members of Reels ever since they let Tate write one of their events on Facebook.
“We had never had that name, but people really liked it,” said Tate. “Everyone was like ‘that should be your band name,’ And Kate didn’t want to do it because she doesn’t hate anything.”
Nevertheless, the name has followed Reels around since that event.
With eight songs under their belts, the band is setting their sights on recording a second EP, performing in more cities around the South and continuing to explore their potential together.
Some people become stuck in the comfort of the “Velvet Ditch.” But for Reels, performing outside of Oxford gives them comfort that new ears will hear their songs each night. So far, they’ve planned a show in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which will take place on Feb. 19, a day after they perform at Ajax in Oxford.
Catch Reels in Oxford again at Proud Larry’s on Mar. 5, when they open for Seratones. In the meantime, stream their EP at reelsoxford.bandcamp.com and visit their Facebook page.
