About Me
In 2001, the members of Now Face West united in the small town of Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Prior to N.F.W, band members Josh Pick, Dan Rogers, and Willie Doyle created a musical stir with their band Row 41. The group attracted attention in the community by taking the title in a local battle of the bands. Recognizing Pick's singing talent and front man enthusiasm, he was chosen for leading roles in school musicals. Bassist Willie Doyle added the funk in the school's pep band, and Dan’s admiration for the guitar grew immensely.
Members Justin Ahlstrom and Nick Farrey came into the mix a bit later. In the mid 80's, Nick's older brother Adam introduced him to the metal scene, air guitaring their way through Judas Priest and Iron Maiden songs. If you were in Cuba City Wisconsin in the 80's, Nick would have been the only 8 year old walking the streets in a denim jacket with the "Ride the Lightening" back patch and hair down to his ass. Ahhh, the 80's.... Nick played drums throughout high school only to find out he was awful at it. At age 19, Nick picked up the guitar at a party and was immediately absorbed in it.
Sick of watching Ahlstrom tap his hands in rhythm on anything that made a sound, his friend P-nut made the wise decision to buy him a drum kit. A few weeks later Nick and Justin met. With no singer or bass player, they jammed Korn and Tool songs to death. The two moved into an old stone house in 2001 and dedicated the dining room to music.
In the spring, Nick and Ahlstrom held a party in which Pick, Rogers, and Doyle all attended. Pick jumped in, sang a few songs, and sounded great. The five of them got together as often as possible and started learning cover songs under the name of Wet Oscar. Wet Oscar practiced anywhere and everywhere a space was available: Abandoned houses, Hog Sheds, and Cheese Factory Coolers to name a few.
Finally prepared to play out, Wet Oscar took the stage at The Night Owl Saloon in Shullsburg, WI. The first show went great. Friends and fans would follow them around Southwest Wisconsin for the next two years. Upon graduation in 2003, Pick went to college at the University of LaCrosse to study radio broadcasting. With no hard feelings, Wet Oscar was no more.
In 2007, Pick returned from school. The five got back to together with new hopes, new intentions, and a new name: Now Face West. They dedicated all of 2007 to writing and recording. Guitarist Dan Rogers will soon be a graduate of the Madison Media Institute, and recorded a demo for the band which is available now.
After many unsuccessful attempts to bare the creative, personal, unlit corners of ourselves - a light shown.
In a frigid room full of smoke and alcohol, huddled in the state of pure inebriation, witness to the failing plaster of the crippled Hocking House, five entered, one emerged. Past struggles to identify the purpose of the individual were instantly enveloped in synergy. Musical order came to be.
Searching in every unfamiliar direction for inspiration, the stage became host to our every need. Inspiration: The sea of misfits. Screaming, flailing arms. Liquid. Inspiration: Damaged everything. Soaked in sweat. Beer and Beer. Inspiration: The "one more song" rant. Inspiration.
We challenge ourselves to create music that is true to us with the hope that it is visible on a separate plain. It is quite possibly safer outside the box - for the walls cannot cave in on you. Now Face West.
NFW has played with HURT, Tantric, Framing Hanley, Fosterchild, Under The Flood, and more.
