Auburn Students Band Together To Boost Area Music Scene

Ragged streams of dark hair frame deep brown eyes that peer out from behind thick-rimmed glasses, a heavy mustache rests on his upper lip, his chin is hidden by a dark beard. Joseph Wolnski doesn’t look like your typical computer science major, and tonight all eyes in the crowded backyard are fixed on him as he readies his guitar and addresses the microphone.

The Quiet Words was formed in the beginning of the 2009 fall semester by Joseph and three friends: Forrest White, drums, George Hamm, electric guitar, and Nate Reed, bass. Despite their short stint together, the four-piece band, which is made up of students at Auburn University, has managed to schedule a string of house shows and assemble a loyal following.

“The drummer and I knew each other, but none of us had ever played music together,” Joseph explained. “We all started jamming together at the beginning of the semester and we found some really good chemistry.”

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Joseph, the lead singer and guitar player, is responsible for writing all of the music for the band.

“My dad taught me to play guitar when I was 10 years old. At that point I was only playing songs for church,” Joseph said. “I started writing music on the piano when I was 14.”

Tonight the crowded backyard is filled with energy as Joseph and the band maneuver through their hour-long set. Those who know the songs sing along while the rest of the crowd moves in time with the thick bass lines and racing drums.

Indie-rock bands in Auburn, like The Quiet Words, face an uphill battle in booking local shows because of the limited number of music venues in the Auburn-Opelika area.

“We’ve mostly played house shows and other events we’ve put together,” Joseph explained.

Recently local Auburn eatery, The Independent, has begun booking bands for weekend shows. In early February, The Independent hosted a four-night music festival called “Indiepaloozaroo” which featured bands from Athens, Ga. and Florence, Ala. The Quiet Words was the headlining band on night two of the event.

“I’m excited about the music scene in Auburn. The Independent has been bringing in a lot of good bands. People need to get out there and support what they’re doing.”

More impressive than lining up a string of local shows, the band has already released a five-song EP titled, All the Wrong Pictures, which the band recorded in Joseph’s basement.

“Recording All the Wrong Pictures was our first experience recording and it went really smoothly. We’ve written a lot of songs since then, and we’re hoping to do more recording soon.”

After gaining a local following and recording their first EP, it’s safe to say that The Quiet Words is doing all the right things. However, despite the early success, Joseph is taking it all in stride.

“We’re not taking it too seriously,” Joseph said. We’re really just doing it for fun.”

Whatever reason drives the group, it is apparent that people are excited about the future of the band. The Quiet Words may be doing it for fun, but their presence is giving the local music scene a serious boost.

To listen and learn more about The Quiet Words visit www.purevolume.com/thequietwords.