Static Ave’s artistic identity is built upon friendship and love for live music

Before their performance at Couch Concert, Static Ave shared their inspirations and goals

By NATALIE SALTER — arts@theaggie.org 

Ahead of The California Aggie’s quarterly Couch Concert, which will take place on Nov. 19 in the basement of The Aggie House on 116 A St., local band and scheduled performer Static Ave opened up about how they began and where they are hoping to go next.

Static Ave is composed of five members: singer Faith Sunga, an environmental policy and management second-year graduate student; guitarists Alexander Liesegang, an  environmental policy and management second-year graduate student, and Tucker Duxbury, a third-year at Sacramento City College; bassist Donovan Madden-Watson, a fourth year environmental policy analysis and planning major; and drummer Johnny Moeller, a UC Davis alum who majored in chemistry.

The band first started as a collaboration between two other bands, Shmoozi and Budget Cut. Last April, Partridge Records hosted Emo Prom in collaboration with Aggie BATS, an event which featured local bands performing covers of artists such as Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance. At the time, Liesegang was a member of Shmoozi, and Moeller was a member of Budget Cut. 

Liesegang explained how the circumstances of Emo Prom led to the two bands partially combining to create Shutt.

“Only [Shmoozi’s] singer and bassist wanted to be part of it,” Liesegang said. “The singer for Shmoozi got in touch with Budget Cut’s drummer and guitarist, and they agreed that we would combine bands just for this one show.”

At Emo Prom, the participating band members played covers of Paramore songs, an experience which inspired future collaborations.

“I enjoyed that kind of music and playing with that group of people so much that I wanted to start a second band and keep it going after the Emo Prom night,” Liesegang said.

The collaborating members of Shmoozi and Budget Cut formed the band Shutt after Emo Prom. However, only Liesegang and Moeller ended up staying, leading them to recruit Madden-Watson, Sunga and Duxbury to form Static Ave.

Moeller, who has played in several other bands, explained what makes playing in Static Ave particularly unique.

“I’ve done pretty much everything under the sun now, but I’m always surprised by what a new band will bring out,” Moeller said. “With [Static Ave], the drum parts are actually hard and technically difficult, and I have to memorize every single note.”

The members of Static Ave all come from different musical backgrounds, bringing their own personal influences and styles to the band. Though they started out covering Paramore songs, the band members cited bands such as Pierce The Veil, Babymetal and Sleeping With Sirens as just a few of their inspirations.

Duxbury also noted how the stories behind such bands inspire Static Ave in their personal artistic journey.

“Every single one has this story of resilience where it took them years to get off the ground, cycling through so many people and moving to different locations to try to get a chance,” Duxbury said. “And they all made it, somehow. I think that’s what keeps me going with all of this. You know, if they can do it, I can do it.”

Though music is their shared passion, the band members’ foundation in friendship ensures that they’re having fun even off the stage. 

“Even if we stayed in the garage the entire time and never performed for anyone, I would be okay with that,” Sunga said. “There’s a feeling that gets unlocked when you’re making good music with good people, and we all developed this energy because we all work so well and fit into our own little pockets. It’s just so much fun.”

Moeller praised the band’s genuine friendship and their drive to constantly challenge themselves.

“We practice all of our songs each and every time, and we look for something to work on each and every time,” Moeller said. “It’s objective, it’s fun, but there’s no sense of burnout that comes with it, because we’re all enjoying each other so much that it’s not stressful.”

Liesegang cited this quality of Static Ave as a defining characteristic that makes their performances special.

“I think what matters most in a band is that we’re all really good friends,” Liesegang said. “And I think that shows. We all just enjoy each other’s company, and there’s always a good energy when we’re here.”

Aside from putting on memorable performances and having fun while doing it, the members of Static Ave hope that their efforts will inspire others to potentially discover their own passion for music.

“My biggest dream is that it resonates with someone,” Duxbury said. “If I can get so much as one kid to say, ‘Hey, that guy’s cool, I want to play guitar like him,’ that would complete my life.”

Static Ave will be performing alongside Dahlia Dell, Purslane and Vacerra at The California Aggie’s Couch Concert on Nov. 19, in the basement of The Aggie House on 116 A St. Doors open at 6 p.m. 

Written by Natalie Salter —- arts@theaggie.org