The Breeze

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Fraternity band forms through musical bond

By EVAN MOODY The Breeze

Senior Pat Poirier’s fingers flew across the frets of his electric guitar to produce the fan-favorite solo: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” Concurrently, Tanner Greer, junior economics major and vocalist, sings of liberty to the densely packed basement just two weeks after a past show had been halted by police.

The set, complete with splattered paint, neon-bulb lights and an encore of Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold,” was the formal introduction of Doghouse, an independent, Harrisonburg-formed band that plays “music for attractive listeners,” Ben Baker, a senior international business major and guitarist, said.

The band’s members span four academic years with Chase Huff, sophomore management major and bassist, and Jackson Greer, freshman computer science major and drummer, rounding out the stage. The affiliation of each member can be attributed to their involvement in the JMU chapter of Phi Gamma Nu (PGN), a business fraternity.

Alex McMillen, sophomore hospitality major and president of PGN, said Doghouse’s formation can be credited to the tightness of the fraternity.

“It’s a group of buddies that know how to play some music and have some shared interests,” McMillen said. “Once the idea came about, and once their minds were kind of made up, there was no looking back.”

Support from the fraternity toward the band was most evident in its Friday night set, which took place in a PGN house’s basement near downtown. No matter what project a member tries to start, there’s always an influx of support, Huff said.

Throughout the crowd, brothers and sisters of the band could be seen wearing “Doghouse” T-shirts, a simple design with the band’s name created by a fellow member and unveiled to the band that night.

Doghouse has channeled the creative side of other PGN members, Huff said. Also noticed throughout the March 24 set was a phone light, film camera setup that spanned the screaming crowd capturing Doghouse chants, barks and close-up portraits of the band performing.

“It’s such an awesome addition to have to this organization,” McMillen said. “We love just getting to see our own members show off their artistic and creative talents.”

Freshman English major Isabel Henderson sought out Doghouse band for a new, local band experience and attended the show. Upon learning the group was affiliated with PGN, Henderson said, “frats should all have a band.” see DOGHOUSE, page 10

The creative outlet’s ability to draw in supporters was proven at PGN’s St. Patrick’s Day party before police interruption. While a social fraternity hosted their own party across the lawn from PGN, attendees began to cross over to the business frat’s grounds because of the live music, Poirier said.