Music in the museum

BASTROP — Providing a platform for local young musicians to exhibit their creativity and dedication, the Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center hosted Daydreamer this past week, a talented group of students with a full setlist of covers and originals.  

Music in the Museum is a monthly concert series, born from saxophonist and music teacher Juan Rangel’s desire to provide more opportunities for young musicians to seriously study performance art and gain experience on the stage.  

“There’s a seriousness to music making,” said Rangel. “I can’t emphasize enough that these young men had to work hard to make this music, and it shows. While true that making music is a joy, expressing yourself through this art requires effort.”  

The director of the event always tries to contribute to the concert as well, playing saxophone alongside the teens for a song or two.  

Daydreamer, comprised of singer and guitarist Harry Knight, guitarist and keyboardist Sullivan Banks, bassist Phin Miller and drummer Thomas Ross, exemplifies the experience of starting a rock band in one’s youth, according to attendees.  

The group was formed out of common interest, and in some sense, convenience, explained Rangel. The three original members played soccer together, where they found the missing drummer that they needed to get their project rolling. 

From there, content is born out of hard work, he continued. Rangel made a note to highlight how much time each member dedicates to practicing their craft. 

“It’s like a 12 hour day, some days,” said aloof drummer Ross, “I go in two hours before school and stay two hours after.” 

 Once the band fell into a rhythm, smiles started to come out and the joy of what it means to be a young musician could be felt, according to listeners.  

Although a young group, they touched on adult themes, noted attendees. 

“It’s very important that you don’t hold ill will against people that you love,” explained vocalist Knight. 

Individual talent was also showcased amidst the team’s performance, with solos for each member sharing the spotlight.  

Event organizer, Rangel, was eager to join in the fun, accompanying “Alcatraz,” the band’s favorite original off of their EP, These Slow Days, according to Knight. 

These Slow Days is available to stream on Spotify. 

For more information on Music in the Museum, visit https://www.bastropcountyhistoricalsociety.com.