The walls of Discovery Hall were lined with musicians and artists alike as The Underground Foundation held its weekly meeting Wednesday to create a buzz for the ASU club's first show of the semester on Saturday.
The club is known for its hands-on involvement with ASU students that double as artists and bring a sense of community to a thriving Tempe art scene.
Four local bands consisting of Twin Ponies, Troubled Minds, Sonoran Chorus and Donovan Wolfington will be raising the roof with easygoing beats and vibes.
This week the student organization held events open to students and the community that continued throughout the week. Such events usually hosted are house shows, poetry slams, movie screenings and art shows, just to name a few.
The wait is over! We've got our first show of the semester on the 29th!!
https://t.co/ae2NL7nL1s
— TUF (@TUF_ASU) August 18, 2015
Sonoran Chorus attended the weekly meeting. The band started as four individuals who were part of TUF and came from other bands to form their own. Band members include Alex LeBlanc, Joe Allie, Troy Penny and Damon Dominguez.
Vocalist and guitarist LeBlanc described the kind of band and music that Sonoran Chorus represents.
"We're like the afterbirth of everything we like," he said.
The other vocalist and guitar player of the band, Dominguez, agreed with him.
"I'd like to think we are not super derivative," he said. "I'd like to think we are transformative. We write a song together and we each take aspects of all the bands that we like and make what we think sounds good."
Troubled Minds is another band consisting of Matt Aldawood, Zak Koehnlein, Brent Huddleston and Christian Rodriguez. Aldawood is both a vocalist and guitarist that feels the same way about TUF as Sonoran Chorus.
"TUF shows provide an intimate experience for enjoying music by always putting on shows in houses," Aldawood said. "There are rarely stages. Bands are at the same level as those listening and it makes for a great way to connect with the crowd."
Generally shows are $5 but can be as much as 10 at select shows. He explains why this upcoming show is not one to miss.
"The fact that the shows are cheap, this one actually being completely free, and on or very close to ASU campus, allows college kids to attend events and house parties that aren't the typical parties you'd find on college campuses in general," Aldawood said.
It's recommended to become a member if attendance is expected past seven events. A thirty member fee can account for a semester while fifty dollars can commit two semesters to TUF. A membership includes a T-shirt designed and voted on each year.
TUF welcomes everyone and anyone. The organization not only supports ASU but the community that thrives around it.
"It puts you in touch with people in your community but also the community," Dominguez said. "This is one that gets you in touch with other people on campus along with Phoenix and with Tempe."
Reach the reporter at ryan.santistevan@asu.edu or follow @ryanerica18 on Twitter.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
