For the past year, The Postulates have brought joy and peace to the Newton area. Well, not really. At the birth of this jam band, only a few members knew everyone in the band. Now, weekends and weeknights are devoted to making the music better and more enjoyable to both the fans and the members. While they will be playing the old originals, don't be surprised to hear a new sound coming from the six instrumentalists that make up The Postulates. They are releasing their first EP, "Promise and Compromise", in the coming weeks and are working on new material. We're pretty good, but don't take it from us.
Teens hosting IndieFest Saturday at Maytag Park
By Jessica Lowe, Newton Daily News
The Postulates is not a typical high school band found in their parents’ basement. Well, they can still be found in their parents’ basement but the group of five Newton Senior High School students have a lot of talent and drive.
The group — which includes Jordan Leckband (bass), Nate Hill (drums), Austin Dunn (guitar), Chris Tomlin (guitar) and Alex Gearhart (vocals and a mean tambourine) — have not only performed at area venues, but they have created their own one-day music festival in 2007 that has evolved into an annual event — the Newton IndieFest.
“When we started last year Austin and I thought that it would be cool to have a concert at Maytag Park,†said Leckband.
The high schoolers took their idea and ran with it, contacting the Newton Parks Department and area bands to perform. Their first endeavor was a success with several musicians performing to more than 100 people in 2007.
With that success under their collective belts, the ambitious band mates went to work planning the 2008 event while also writing, recording and producing their first EP featuring six original songs.
“Last year we didn’t even know what we were doing,†said Dunn. “This year we have more experience and so hopefully have a better turn out.â€
To help pull in a “better turn out†there are several area acts scheduled to perform. Along with The Postulates, there will be performances by Des Moines bands The Naked Station, Hanwell, The Prospectors and Steve Robinson and the Foundation, Newton band Pardon Us and Pella’s Plan to Pull Through.
The five-hour music festival also will feature solo artists Blake Brown and Max Jury, both of Des Moines and Adam Pettyjohn of Newton.
The free event kicks off at 5 p.m. at Maytag Park in Newton.
“If you’re looking for a good time come to IndieFest,†said Gearhart.
"Premium Unleaded"
Lyrics and music by Austin Dunn
"Madeline"
Lyrics and music by Jordan L. Leckband
"Anything and Everything"
Lyrics and music by Jordan L. Leckband
"Left Your Mark"
Lyrics by Jordan L. Leckband and Alex Gearhart
Music by Austin Dunn
"If I Could Fly"
Lyrics and music by Jordan L. Leckband
"Feet Up"
Lyrics and music by Christopher Tomlin
