Sophomores in rock band have a sound like Green Day

Band Members:

Ben Thrasher: vocals, Max Holtman: guitar, Drew Phillips: bass, Ryan Walstrom: drums and Tim Graupner: keyboard. All are sophomores.

What’s in a name?

According to Phillips, the name “Dead Ringers” came from the chorus of an Anti-Flag song called “State Funeral.”

Members of 'Dead Ringers" are Ben Thrasher: vocals, Max Holtman: guitar, Drew Phillips: bass, Ryan Walstrom: drums and Tim Graupner: keyboard. According to Holtman, he and Phillips decided to make a band in biology class. OMEED MALEKMARZBAN/ PHOTO

United in harmony

“In November of (my) freshman year during biology class, Drew and I decided we would just, like, jam in a music store, and then from there we decided to make a band. We added (Walstrom) and (Thrasher) first and then later Tim was just hanging out one day and wanted to join,” Holtman said.

Rolling in dough

The Dead Ringers play shows about once every two weeks and either divide the money up equally among themselves or put the money in their band bank account. So far they have about $200 saved up toward buying some drum microphones and more amps.

A lively future

Phillips said his mom’s boyfriend is currently working to get them some time to record a demo CD at the Static Shack in hopes that they might get signed to a record company in the future.

Sounds like…

Foo Fighters, Green Day.

Mixing it up

“We try to keep changing our sound. We’ll play almost any type of rock music, other than metal or scream-o. If you come see us play you’d see that we do like a really good mix of alternative rock, like ’90s rock and modern but then also ’70s classic rock. I think one of the reasons people like us is because of our variation in sound,” Phillips said.

Where they rock out

The band plays at Houndstock, Ben & Ari’s (in Fishers) and the Falls Café (in Pendelton).

Makin’ music
The Dead Ringers have a repertoire of about 20 songs with five originals. All members contribute creating the original songs. “We all put ourselves into the song to make it reflect each of us, musically,” Phillips said.