Tim Warren ’03 and Eric Donnelly ’01 are two Fairfield graduates with some big musical plans. Together they form the core of The Alternate Routes, a rock-pop group that will make its triumphant return to Fairfield University with a performance at The Quick Center Thursday night.
Since graduating, Warren and Donnelly have focused their attention primarily on the band, forming an arsenal of new material and working on the promoting, networking and touring aspects of the music industry.
“Thing are just starting to move a lot faster,” Warren told The Mirror in a telephone interview. “We’re starting to really focus and see this as a career.”
Working off the local success of their debut CD, “This is When,” which has currently sold upwards of 1,000 copies since it’s independent release in April 2002, The Routes are working towards a broader success, recruiting new fans and spreading their music to new people.
“It’s really important to get in front of people that have never heard us before,” said Warren. “We have a core group of fans, but right now we’re just trying to get our music to more people, get more people listening.”
Warren and Donnelly have been playing together for two years, honing a unique sound that is primarily rock-pop, with additional jazz and folk influences. Additionally, the band enlists additional musicians who have toured with the likes of Jewel and Dunkin Sheik who play as part of the band at shows.
This Thursday will feature drummer Tim Newton, bassist Tyler Gibbons, and Martin Barnes on keyboards.
In the past two years, the uniquely structured band has made a name for themselves on the local music scene, opening last spring for Howie Day and playing shows at Bridgeport’s Acoustic Café.
As unique as the band’s structure is its name, which was inspired by a trip to Martha’s Vineyard during which the band spotted a sign that said “seek alternate routes.”
“Eric and I have both had to reroute everything we’ve been doing to make this work,” said Warren.
Guitarist Donnelly of Bridgeport is the son of musicians. He graduated from Fairfield in 2001 with a major in music, after picking up music at a young age. He sites Fairfield as a major musical influence for him, specifically professors such as Brian Torf, Laura Nash and George Naha, who helped Donnelly become the musician he is today by giving him the freedom to develop a curriculum to cater to his musical aspirations.
Warren, the rhythm guitarist and vocalist in the band, has also been involved in music since a young age. He began singing in choirs in sixth grade and went on to pick up guitar in eleventh grade. Warren graduated from Fairfield in May with a degree in marketing and finance.
With college behind them, the duo are looking toward the future and hope to be on a national tour in the next five years. For now, though, they are happy with their independence.
“I think we’re at a point now where I think musically it’s really starting to develop itself,” said Warren. “Once you get to a certain point you begin to stand for something, you find your niche.”
“All of a sudden we’re kind of in control of everything we do,” Donnelly added. “There’s no one to turn to. But that’s the exciting part. We’re creating something and controlling it and that’s pretty amazing.”
The Routes are concentrating on their upcoming gig at Fairfield. They say that students expecting the old Routes can expect a few surprises.
“We’re not the same band we were when we left,” said Donnelly. “It’s been six or seven months since people around here have heard us play. About half the material we’re playing is brand new.”
In addition to showing off their new material, the band is excited for their homecoming at their alma mater.
“It’s great to come back after a while to something familiar,” said Warren. “It’s great to come back to where you’ve been, and show everyone where you are now.”
Leave a Reply