Thomas Flowers watches the History Channel. "It's a good escape," said Flowers, lead singer of the rock band Oleander. The four-piece band includes fellow members Ric Ivanisevich on guitar, Doug Eldridge on bass guitar, and Scott Devours on drums.
Eldridge and Flowers played together four years before meeting Ivanisevich in 1996. The group spent one practice tossing around names when Ivanisevich noticed an oleander bush near the railroad tracks by their practice space and that name just stuck.
"It was so ambiguous that it could be a disco band or a death-metal band," Flowers said.
Oleander's third full-length, major-label album, Joyride, was available in stores March 4. The album features 11 songs with the last track, Runaway Train, featured on the soundtrack of the Showtime movie "Bang Bang You're Dead." Flowers said the title of the album comes from the band's attitude toward working in the music industry.
"Working in this business is a joyride," said Flowers. "The whole process of producing an album and playing music is fun."
His favorite song on "Joyride" is the third track, "Fountain and Vine." It chronicles his decision to face his addiction to alcohol.
"I looked out my window in Hollywood and I was living at the corner of Fountain and Vine. There is an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting there," said Flowers. "It was my salvation."
To promote the album, the Sacramento, California based band joined Nickelback on a short tour in January. They participated in Budweiser's 1 Night Stand concert series at the Murat Egyptian Room in Indianapolis.
Shortly after taking the stage, some of the crowd began to get wild and started a mosh pit. Flowers stopped the band in mid-song to have the rowdy people kicked out. Ivanisevich was not surprised.
Backstage, Flowers was humble and appreciative of the crowd's interest in the band's music.
"They are the rock stars," said Flowers. "They punch their card everyday from 9 to 5 and we just show up to play music."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
