The Observer Newspapers | Augur Rocks the Local Music Scene

April 3, 2008

Augur Rocks the Local Music Scene

By Rebecca Plevin

Observer Staff Writer

Levi Duncan and Andrew Lee, both members of the local band Augur, are trying to describe their band's sound. They are throwing out ideas as they sip beers at Jimmy's Old Town Tavern, which they call their "home base after having played there a number of times.

Lee says the band's music takes its cues from classic and hard rock, and Duncan says the sound is rooted in acoustic music. But finally, Duncan says, "I don't know how to answer that question.

He calls over to the table Pam Slabaugh, a waitress at Jimmy's who has worked during a number of the band's shows, and asks her to describe the band's sound. "It's very good, she says. "It's not heavy metal. She also says that Augur is "one of our new favorite bands.

The members of Augur agree that they are "too old to be rock stars, as Lee put it, but they are still hoping to become a recognizable name on the local music scene. The group has performed at Jimmy's during open-mike nights and held a solo show at the bar in March. They are scheduled to perform at Jimmy's again in May and during the bar's Memorial Day weekend concert.

"Living the dream to me is just playing in front of a crowd of people, Duncan said. We are "doing this because we love doing this. He said that practicing and arranging music is also fulfilling, but he really enjoys playing in front of a crowd of clapping, screaming, singing people. "That's the pay off, he said.

The band, which also consists of members Levi Erickson, Esther Lee and Dave Sumpter, plays twice a week at Duncan's home in Herndon. The band practices on Tuesday nights and holds all-night jam sessions on Friday nights, where the group members play songs for their wives and friends and drink beer, Lee said.

Duncan said the group develops its original songs during those evenings. He writes the main chords and notes for a song, and then plays the skeleton of the song for his band members. The band members learn the basic structure of the song, Duncan said, and then he "lets the guys jam on it. Duncan also writes the song's lyrics, all of which are grounded in true events and feelings, he said. "I do not write lyrics that don't mean anything, he said.

Duncan and Erickson started to casually play acoustic guitar-renditions of cover songs for their wives about two and a half years ago, and the band has grown and developed since then. The group's name comes from the ancient Roman officials that observed and interpreted signs and omens, and Duncan said he hopes people will listen to the lyrics of the group's original songs and "get moved by it.

Duncan said the members of Augur would like to play at other local bars and during summer music festivals, but for now, the band is happy to be playing at Jimmy's. Erickson, who lives in Ashburn and is moving to Herndon, said Jimmy's is a "great, close location for us that has a relaxed, pub atmosphere. He also said, "We like being this small-town local band.