www.shreveporttimes.com
J.D. Ventura
Posted on October 17, 2003

Rock bands at the State Fair

Dane Adrian and his band, Squint, will play the Louisiana State Fair for
the first time this year and he isn't quite sure what to expect.

"You're dealing with an audience of people who are one to 80 years old,"
said Adrian. "And then you're just dropping a bunch of rock bands in the middle
of it. It should be intriguing."

Intriguing indeed. Squint, a group out of Ruston known for its "high-energy
alternative rock with a punk element" - Adrian's words - will play along with 11
other local bands starting at noon, and ending at midnight. It's the first time so
many local alternative bands have been showcased at the fair, better known
for its livestock shows and pie competitions.

And although many fairgoers may not recognize the four rockers, they are a
name brand in the local alternative scene, and have recently produced their
second CD, Tinsel Town.

Adrian said their music is taking them on the road again in November. This time
the group is heading for the West Coast, with shows planned for Las Vegas and
Los Angeles. It's anyone's guess if they can spark the kind of loyal following there
that they have in the Ark-La-Tex.

"Our fans know the words to our songs, they identify with them," said Adrian.
"They see our hard work and our vision, and want to be a part of that."

The band places a heavy emphasis on making their lyrics meaningful, said
Adrian, who moved down to Ruston from Michigan to attend Louisiana Tech (he
dropped out when the band got busy, but then went back and got his degree in
industrial engineering). "I want to make sure that you can read the words alone,
without the music, and still know what the song is talking about."

And it can probably be assumed more people are talking these days about
Squint. Adrian said they are being played on more than 250 college radio stations
around the country and on XM satellite radio, which is broadcast internationally.
Two of the band's songs, Glimmer and Phase and Anthem for Closure, were also
featured on MTV's Road Rules, according to the band's Web site.

But while television and radio airplay sells records, Squint is still a live "rock show,"
said Adrian. "We always want you to know we're having fun."

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