Hanscom civilians lead rock band in first performance for military audience

  • Published
  • By Capt. Geoff Buteau
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  If an Airman retires after a 20-year military career, takes four year-long deployments and goes on about two one-week temporary-duty stints per year, he or she will have been away from home for 25 percent of their military career.

Paul Brown, song writer and lead vocalist for the band Paul Brown and the Killing Devils -- who will play at the Minuteman Club Sept. 23 -- has also been on the road playing his music for 25 percent of his life.

But this will be the first time he and his band plays in front of a military audience.

"I'm excited and we want to make sure we give a little bit back to the people in the military," he said. "Doing a show here is very special and it's important that we show our appreciation and give [the military community] the best possible show they can get."

Mr. Brown and his wife moved to the Boston area from St. Louis after they both landed jobs at the Electronic Systems Center. Mr. Brown, who now works as a contract specialist, had a legal practice in St. Louis prior to arriving at Hanscom last year.

"One thing I've really enjoyed about working and being on base is that I've learned quite a lot," he said. "I think it gives you a greater appreciation for the people doing the work defending the country."

It's not only Mr. Brown's civilian, contractor and military colleagues he's become fond of in the year he's made the move to Hanscom, but he also holds his band's lead guitarist, Dave Hines, in high regard.

"He's an accomplished guitarist and I was lucky to convince him to join the band," Mr. Brown said.

After hearing him perform at his organization's holiday party and a few jam sessions, the two linked up because of the common musical interests and a mutual respect for each other's musical talent and drive.

"The first thing that stood out about Paul was his unique and powerful voice," Mr. Hines, who also works for ESC, said. "He offered me an opportunity to stretch out into another aspect of playing that was hard for me to turn down. He sounds like no one else in a world where everyone is trying to sound like their favorite band's vocalist. He's truly an original."

The two, along with Mr. Brown's bassist and drummer from St. Louis, will be performing at the Minuteman Club and working on the band's fifth album together.

Just as Airman, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines sometimes have to conjure up a different part of themselves to get through the challenging nature of some deployments, surprising even themselves, there may be some similarities when Mr. Brown and his band are on stage performing.

"I'm definitely a different person on stage than I am sitting here," Mr. Brown said. "I'd like to believe we surprise people when we play. I love playing and I love making people happy."

The band has headlined in one of the largest clubs in Boston, The Roxy, and many venues from New York City to Southern California. They have had air play on stations across the country, including WAAF in Boston, according to Mr. Brown.

Paul Brown and Killing Devils will be performing Sept. 23 at the Minuteman Club from 6 to 9 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets are available through Ace Ticket, Hanscom Tickets and Tours and at the Minuteman Club. Tickets are $9 and club members receive a $2 discount. The band's web page is www.myspace.com/paulbrowntkd and many songs can be viewed by visiting www.youtube.com/user/PaulBrownandtheKD.