WEST POINT, Ala. – At one point or another during adolescence, most children and teens dream of starting their band and making it to “the Big Time” with a group of friends rocking out and traveling the world playing music. Statistically, less than 1% of garage bands will make it to a major recording label; some due to growing apart and disbanding and some due to rejection and cessation of playing altogether. The music industry is regarded as one of the most cut-throat industries around, as only one band out of thousands and thousands of others will be recognized and become famous. Local garage band Raging Bones is well on its way to being that household name, recognized everywhere for its new-age covers of old-school classics.
Raging Bones is comprised of four local high schoolers and recent graduates from West Point High School. Aedan Dubenezic is the charismatic frontman, with lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Eric Figueroa is on vocals and lead guitar; Rowyn Dubenezic assists with vocals and plays bass guitar; and Jared Smith keeps the beat with drums.
The band had humble beginnings, starting from hanging out in the basement after school and goofing off with a guitar. Aedan Dubenezic told the band’s story, sharing, “Jared was over and he’s looking at my brother’s drum set, and says, ‘Oh, I know how to play drums.’ I was like, ‘OK, cool.’”
After playing a rendition of the Foo Fighters’ “Everlong,” Smith and Aedan Dubenezic knew this had the potential to be a real thing, they just needed more musicians. The next member added to the Raging Bones roster was Figueroa, a school friend of Aedan Dubenezic’s and Smith’s.
“We invited him over because I thought he played the bass; he didn’t play the bass, but played guitar, so that sucked,” Aedan Dubenezic said. “But then he picked up his guitar and started shredding, and I’m like, ‘Oh, OK, that’s awesome.’”
With two guitars, vocals and drums covered, the band was almost ready, they only needed a bass player. Enter Rowyn Dubenezic, Aedan’s younger sister. “Rowan, she plays the piano, and that’s like basically a bass. So we bought her a bass and we just like kind of forced her to play and she has been doing amazing.”
The band was constructed and it was time to practice as a unit for the first time, and nerves were elevated. “I was really intimidated; they sent me 10 songs for me to learn,” Figueroa chuckled. “I showed up to the first practice and we only played two, and there were the only two I learned.”
After that first practice, the band’s sound only improved and refined; something that really caught the attention of Rowyn and Aedan Dubenezic’s father, Michael. Michael Dubenezic was in a band in his youth and recognized the potential in his children’s music. He approached the band about a “manager” position. He was willing to provide sound and stage equipment and claim the role of “groupie,” setting up equipment, troubleshooting and being a general mentor for the young adults in a potentially vicious industry.
“I used to play music myself when I was younger and my dad didn’t have many means. Knowing what challenges they’re going to go through, I told them I would help them out with the band,” Michael Dubenezic said. “I’ve supported them all the way and I will continue to support them in any way.” He said he uses old-school New Jersey tactics, as he once played in the Rat Trap Café. “I reach out to owners and events and see if they want us to play. It’s changing, though; now they’re reaching out to us!” All the equipment belongs solely to the band and with no paid employees to handle setup, all funds from paid shows go directly back to the band. “They get every penny of it, and I want to help them and be their driving force. I know the pitfalls that are there and I want to be there for them.” Michael Dubenezic said.
Gigs came in slowly. Figueroa recounted their first performance and said, “Our school had a homecoming thing and one of the themes was Kiss the Eagles goodbye. So we put on KISS makeup and we learned like three KISS songs and played them on the float in the homecoming parade.”
Following that performance, word got around and soon the band was asked to play for a Halloween party. Now, the band has several successful gigs under their belt, performing as recently as late October at the Town of West Point’s trunk-or-treat and Render Aid’s Boo Fest at the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center.
Aedan Dubenezic and the rest of Raging Bones know that the sky is the limit for their music and they plan to take it there. “We really hope we make it to the Nashville scene,” he said. “I hope this is for the long term. Yeah, that would be really cool.”
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