Sounds of Summer: A Beach Boys Tribute ~ Band Bios Matt Matt plays guitar and bass in the band and leads several songs throughout the show such as ‘Help Me Rhonda’, ‘California Girls’ and ‘Little Deuce Coop’. Matt started playing guitar at the age of 13 and always had a love for 60’s rock and roll. While Matt was in high school, he played in different bands with Connor, David, and Eric before going off to study at Berklee College of Music. During the summer of 2013 Matt had the idea to start Sounds of Summer after finding 4 matching striped striped shirts in a dumpster behind a bowling alley (jk)…Actually the idea was sparked when he and David started learning a few Beach Boys songs to perform with their own band and thought “This would sound a lot better with 3 other guys!” (we settled for 2). After graduating from Berklee in Dec 2013 he began constructing the various pieces of the show with the other 3 members in mind. Lucky for Matt it seemed like a good idea to them as well. Matt now lives in Nashville, TN where he plays with several other groups when he is not bowling or selling ice cream with Sounds of Summer. Find out more about Matt at www.matthewpaynethompson.com Dave Although born a Hoosier, David’s musical interest has always drifted more toward the coasts from California to New Jersey. It was something about the instrumentation and harmonies that drew him. From Billy Joel to the Eagles and of course, the Beach Boys, he became obsessed the very second he heard the harmonic resonances those bands put out. His first exposure to great music was not from the radio, it was his father, Andy, and uncle, Kevin, two brothers singing harmonies and playing acoustic guitars in the garage that inspired him. David wanted to be a part of that, so by listening to a recording over and over; he taught himself how to play “Desperado” by the Eagles on the piano. In that same way, he added song after song to his repertoire, and before long, he found himself unable to pass a piano without playing it. Making music with his family is important to him, and he still plays and sings with his dad and uncle in the garage. He often performs in Florida with his full-time musician cousin, Logan Grant Ertel. Before the creation of Sounds of Summer: A Beach Boys Tribute, David played in the cover band, Products of 77, which produced an album of original music. David graduated from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, and when he isn’t performing, practicing, or composing music, he works as a registered nurse in an emergency department. Connor Connor Ertel grew up around music but never expressed a desire to join in on the fun until the age of 13. This process was largely driven by his desire to blend in more with his two best friends, Eric Wernke and Matt Hurley, who were becoming more involved in both playing and performing music. In the summer prior to the 8th grade, Connor asked his father to show him some chords on the 1966 Holiday, his father's first guitar. He was quickly drawn to catchy and melodic tunes and his father introduced him to the riff from the song "Pipeline". In fact, one of his earliest guitar influences was The Ventures, a surf-based instrumental band from the 1960's. Connor saw guitar as his contribution to the band he and his friends had created without considering vocals as an option. A combination of shyness and lacking confidence made him most comfortable without a microphone in front of him. After several years of playing and much convincing by his band mates, he began contributing more vocally. After over a decade of performing in various bands, Connor was approached by Matt to create Sounds of Summer and he got on board without much convincing. Today, Connor takes much pride in his vocal contribution to the band and has many prominent vocally-challenging parts during the show. Music is prominent in Connor's life but he sees his greatest roles in life as husband to his beautiful wife Tara, father to his precious baby boy Graham, and physical therapist at Columbus Regional Health in Columbus, Indiana. Eric Growing up, Eric had all the dreams that many young boys have like being a pro basketball player or star pitcher. His father, Dale, taught him and his two older brothers, Ryan and Adam, how to fish, play ball, mow the lawn, and treat a lady. Though Eric’s childhood kept him primarily outdoors, a slow steady shift from sports to music brought him to S.O.S. Eric’s biggest musical influence is his mother JoAnn, a former singer in a local family band. She introduced Eric to harmony at a young age and suggested he listen to The Beach Boys and The Beatles for practice. Obeying his mother (as he always had), he purchased The Beach Boys Greatest Hits album on cassette and before the age of ten, Eric’s musical curiosity started to take hold. He would dabble with instruments, but always favored drumming and singing. As Eric’s ability grew, so did his desire to perform. Through high school, he performed with bands consisting of his cousin Matt Hurley, brother Adam, long time friend Connor Ertel, and new friend Matt Thompson. And during his college years at Marian University in Indianapolis, Eric became a sidekick to his brother Ryan in The ComboNation--a group of various members, also including Connor. Though Eric is still an active member of the ComboNation, he balances music with work since the beginning of his career as a high school math teacher in his home town of North Vernon, IN. The creation of Sounds of Summer has given Eric an opportunity to honor one of his most influential bands, showcase his talents and humor, and lastly play in a band with his good friend David Ertel. (Where was he the whole time?) .