Thursday is the ETSU Homecoming concert which features many acts including the headlining act, Everclear.
For those who like to hang out at Heather’s Hideaway though, this concert may not be just about Everclear. It may mean a chance to see a hometown band perform on the big stage.
The opening act of the concert will feature the rock’n’roll band, Winter of ’74.
Winter of ’74 is a four-man rock’n’roll band, but after speaking with the drummer of the band, Tim Smith, I came to realize that they are much more.
Winter of ’74 is composed of four men who love to jam, play their hardest and put everything they have into their music.
The lead singer of the band, Drew Montgomery, began a search in 2003 to form a band. He was quickly joined by Smith. The two went on to play together in a band called Los Mofos.
A long time friend of Montgomery’s, Nelson Arblaster soon joined the band taking up the guitar. Six months after the three members were together, they added the fourth and final piece of the puzzle. Recently, Chris “The Kid” Mitchell joined the band and added a second guitar that would prove to be the “secret sauce” of Winter of ’74.
Winter of ’74 has been compared to the likes of Led Zeppelin and Coldplay. “We love it,” Smith said. “It’s an honor to be compared to them.”
The band got their name from within. “The name comes from Drew’s birth [date],” Smith said. “My birth [date] was in the Summer of ’74, but that didn’t have a cool ring to it.”
The band does not have a CD out yet, but their music is available. “We put our four songs on the web site,” he said. “We’re giving them to people.”
As to the sound of the band, Smith said, “I’m always joking that our band sounds like a summer album. You know like Rick Springfield. But really we’re like arena rock playing for 30 people.”
With tracks like “My Room” and “Its Over,” Winter of ’74 shows that they can rock as hard as they can, and show emotion with lyrics that drive deep to the hearts of the audience.
The band loves being on stage. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” Smith said. “Doing what you love and everyone loving what you’re doing. It’s great. It surpasses a hobby.”
Smith has some advice for up andd coming musical stars. “Do everything you can,” he said. “Knock on everyone’s door. Do what you can to get out there.”
Winter of ’74 is the first act at the Homecoming concert. They will take the stage at 6 p.m.
For more information you can go to www.purevolume.com/winterof74. There you can also download their four tracks. They will play again at Heather’s Hideaway on Nov. 19. That show starts at 10 p.m.

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