My Two Wings, an Auburn-based band, is bringing a unique fusion of bluegrass, folk and acoustic music to the town.
The band played Friday to a full crowd at the Olde Auburn Ale House.
"Kind of the thing we all have in common is we just like playing music, so we're mostly just doing it for fun," said Bryant Hains, graduate student in mechanical engineering and banjo, guitar and keyboard player for the band.
The band is comprised of Hains; Jon Myles, vocals, mandolin and guitar; Tyler Gates, vocals and guitar; and J.W. Woodard, upright bass.
The band also regularly features Riley Robertson, fiddle player and junior in polymer and fiber engineering, and Morgan Bethea, vocals.
Myles started the band in Auburn in 2008 and serves as the primary songwriter and vocalist.
When he's not playing music, Myles teaches science at Trinity Christian School in Opelika.
Some of the band's biggest musical influences are Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, Ryan Adams and My Morning Jacket, Myles said.
Hains said Christianity also plays a roll in influencing the band's music.
"It finds it's way into a lot of lyrics as well," Myles said. "The lyrics are not usually very openly religious, but that element is there."
The band has recorded two albums so far. The first self-titled album features work primarily by Myles.
Typhoid Mary, the band's second album, came out last month, and according to Hains was more experimental and has a stronger focus on rock than the first album, which was exclusively folk.
He said all of the songs on the albums are originals and written primarily by Myles, although at shows the band will occasionally play covers.
"We probably have 15 to 20 songs that are originals," Hains said.
The band is currently moving forward with plans to record a third album, which will probably feature more bluegrass-style music, Myles said.
He said although the band would like to make it big, they are enjoying where they are right now.
"We're just going to have fun with it, and if anything comes about, then great," Myles said. "We'll all be playing music the rest of our lives some way or another."
The band practices together once a week.
"They all work very, very hard," said Kathy Myles, Jon's wife. "They all are very serious musicians and some of the most talented musicians that you'll hear in Auburn."
Hains said the members also focus heavily on the other aspects of their lives, such as school and work.
Myles said one of the most important things with college students trying to balance school with music is to have fun, but not take yourself too seriously.
"It's hard work--there's always going to be critics out there saying you can't do it," Robertson said.
Robertson also said it is important to practice playing in front of an audience and with someone else.
Common venues for the band are the Olde Auburn Ale House, the Independent, Eighth and Rail and festivals such as Auburn Summer Nights.
Myles said the band also hopes to play some outdoor venues in the future.
Upcoming shows for the band are On The Tracks, a food and wine tasting in Opelika April 15 and Summer Nights June 17 in downtown Auburn.
The band's albums are on iTunes, and listeners can preview several songs on the band's website, www.reverbnation.com/mytwowings.
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