Photo courtesy of Paul Cunningham, Cool World Photography
New Albany has the right to boast about a lot of its accomplishments: It was named No. 1 suburb by Business Insider in 2015, its average household income is more than triple that of the U.S. average and it is an all-around health-minded community.
On top of that, it can now call itself the birthplace of a second successful rock band.
The first, hitting the charts in 2010, was New Hollow, which played the New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix and Family Day in 2011. The second, which played the Classic this year and is only growing in popularity, is Plaid Brixx.
New Albany High School alumni Chris Duggan and Mark LeRose reconnected after graduating college – New York University and The Ohio State University, respectively – when Duggan decided he wanted to fulfill his childhood dream to start a rock band and go on tour. Duggan, a vocalist and guitarist, enlisted LeRose to play drums, and Plaid Brixx was born.
“I was extremely pumped to get on board,” says LeRose.
When the pair needed someone to play the keyboard in the music video for their single “Chemistry,” what better path than to recruit a fan? Jared Sawaya, a Columbus native and graduate of Groove U, a two-year specialized music program in Columbus, would turn out to be the perfect fit, overlooking the minor setback that he didn’t know how to play the keyboard at the time.
From left: Keyboard, six-string and bass player Jared Sawaya; frontman Chris Duggan; and drummer Mark LeRose. Photo courtesy of Paul Cunningham, Cool World Photography
LeRose and Duggan promised the guitarist that if he learned to play the keyboard for real, he could join the band. Sawaya didn’t disappoint, and Plaid Brixx became a trio: LeRose on drums; Sawaya on keyboard, six-string and bass guitar, as well as taking care of the audio engineering; and Duggan fronting as vocalist and lead guitar.
Duggan’s talents don’t end there. The 26-year-old writes the majority of Plaid Brixx’s alternative pop music. Though the band’s first album, Magic Trixx, was inspired by a breakup, Duggan’s writing has moved in a more positive direction. Much of the music on the recent Plaid Brixx EP is inspired by self-help books, notably You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero.
“That book made me want to write a lot about, ‘you’re awesome and you can do it,’” says Duggan.
Because two-thirds of the band is from New Albany, the city has significantly influenced the band’s music. New Albany has even influenced the band’s name. The Georgian architecture styling accounts for the “brick” half of the name, while Duggan’s love for plaid accounts for the first half. His childhood bedroom wall was covered in “red, obnoxious plaid,” he says, while brick “conjures images of strength and unification.”
Plaid Brixx performs during their set at the Fashion Meets Music Festival. Photo courtesy of Elle Grace Photography
And although the road to where Plaid Brixx finds itself now hasn’t been easy, the members agree it’s been well worth it, especially when they are able to get on stage and perform, a feeling that LeRose says is “unparalleled, and it’s what keeps us going.”
“Playing shows is always a blast, regardless of where it is and the size of the audience,” says Sawaya. “It’s cool to bring the studio versions of songs to life, and create an experience that people won’t forget.”
Duggan and LeRose are influenced by their time at New Albany High School, citing the sheer number of bands and the competitive nature of being a musician in the school. The pair were involved in many different musical projects, and LeRose says his four years there shaped his music today.
“Growing up in New Albany meant all the difference for me as far as staying committed to music,” he says. “I always felt like there was an extremely supportive environment for the arts.”
Plaid Brixx performs at the 2016 New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix and Family Day. Photo courtesy of Lorn Spolter
The band has grown significantly in its short three years. The band regularly plays at local music venues around Columbus and, in September, performed at not only the New Albany Classic, but also the Fashion Meets Music Festival.
“It’s always a big surprise to see what we’ve been capable of as a band. … I’m very proud of our sound and what we’ve accomplished,” says Sawaya. “Twelve-year-old me would have never imagined the fact I am doing what I am right now.”
Duggan and LeRose grew up attending the Classic, and LeRose describes the opportunity to play at the 2016 event “crazy.”
“I never imagined that I would be playing on that stage for so many friends and family,” LeRose says. “It’s always good to play shows in Columbus, not to mention that it’s the town where we grew up.”
“We grew up going to the Classic when we were kids, and it was surreal, for lack of a better word,” says Duggan. “It was very cool; the circle comes back around.”
Amanda DePerro is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Fit Five with Plaid Brixx frontman Chris Duggan
Healthy New Albany: Are there any foods you try to avoid or emphasize?
Chris Duggan: The only dairy I eat is Greek yogurt. I try to stay away from cheese, so after maybe five years of not eating cheese or milk or anything like that, my body doesn’t tolerate it. I ate pizza from Mellow Mushroom, and I love Mellow Mushroom, and I was not feeling well because of the cheese. The pizza was amazing; I want to make sure I stress that. Needless to say, there’s a lot of salad in my life. I also should add that I’m an avid lover of kombucha. I drink two to three 16-ounce bottles of kombucha a day, and it does wonders for my overall well-being. It’s incredible. I wish we had a kombucha bar. Maybe I should start that; invest in bringing a kombucha bar to Columbus.
HNA: What are your favorite ways to stay active?
CD: I belong to a couple gyms. One gym is really good for lifting. It’s not a big box gym where everyone’s wearing neon spandex and looking around at each other. It’s a bunch of sweaty dudes and dudettes wanting to get their pump on and not worry about anything. It’s a great place. For proximity’s sake, I subscribe to LA Fitness.
HNA: What do you like to do to relax?
CD: I like to go down to the hot tub. That’s so nice. Otherwise, exercise is really relaxing for me; it’s really zen. Especially biking; I’ve never slept better than after I do a good ride. I don’t ride for pleasure, I do it to ride really fast and get a good workout. I was talking to someone, and they told me, “I think you burn 50 calories an hour riding a bike.” I’m pretty sure I burn at least 200. I do try to say hello to as many people as possible. I’m trying to practice talking to strangers, so I’m like, “Hey! Hello!”
HNA: How do you manage to stay healthy and active while on tour?
CD: It’s really tough. This summer, I was in the best shape of my life, and after touring, I feel like I have no stamina left. I try to meditate as much as I can, and that keeps me chill. I’ll start the day off and I meditate in the hotel room. Eating healthfully is really, really important on tour, because that’s all you have. You’re not going to have time to stop at a gym, but the hotel gyms aren’t that great. I try to use the hotel gyms as much as possible; we all do.
HNA: Do you find writing and working on your music to be therapeutic?
CD: Definitely. It’s definitely therapeutic to write about something. You pull it out of your head and put it in a song, and you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
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