From These Eyes: one step closer to the big time

Tony Galofaro and his three-man band have much in common with the many student musicians hoping to make it big in the world of music.

But unlike most hopefuls, Galofaro's band is just days away from being put on a label.

Within the next week, his band From These Eyes will be signing contracts for a summer tour across the United States, and making plans for recording their first full-length CD.

Galofaro, a junior exercise science major, plays bass, Mike Bryant, a junior architecture major, plays drums, and Doug Abraham, a senior business major, sings.

The band has played at Perks Coffeehouse in the Ellicott Complex Sunday evenings for the past three semesters, as well as other venues across Western New York.

The summer after high school, Galofaro toured all over the country with the Tripping Billies, a Dave Matthews cover band, a gig he got through his guitar teacher. The professional manager of that band, Mark Boudreau, is now helping the UB student band make their dreams a reality.

"He gave me a call a few weeks ago, he's starting his own management company," Galofaro said. "We'll be signing contracts this week."

Galofaro and Abraham met in a music theory class fall of 2003.

"We talked about jamming and it worked out that our sound sounded great together," Abraham said.

After trying out two other drummers, Bryant joined in August 2004. Since then, the band has been rehearsing two to three times a week, and have collected around 30 songs.

From These Eyes also has a personal manager. Matt McGuire, a junior English and music major, helps with their growing business needs.

Abraham, who recorded his solo songs before From These Eyes, writes the lyrics and the basis of the music. From there, the music is a group collaboration.

"We'll keep changing it around until it's recorded," said Galofaro.

The three-man band is a powerhouse with an alternative, easy listening sound.

They have already recorded a demo CD at GFI studios in Ontario, NY. Sample music and future performance dates can be found at their Web site, www.fromtheseeyes.com. Fans even have the option of ordering From These Eyes t-shirts and sweatshirts.

"We just want to build a fan base right now and get people interested in what we're doing," said Galofaro.

With new possibilities just around the corner, Galofaro, Bryant, and Abraham are excited that their childhood goals could come true within a few short months.

"I'm excited, but I know there will be a lot of work involved," Galofaro said.

All three band members agreed that, no matter what happens, it is all about the music and their friendship.

"If we could tour, have a fan base that really enjoy what we do, and make enough to live off of, that's what matters," Abraham said.

For now, Abraham is reveling in not knowing what will come next.

"We really don't know and that's the coolest thing right now," he said. "We know something big is going to happen, but we don't know when."