The crowd huddled together beneath the expansive tarp in the backyard, seeking shelter to escape the relentless downpour that flowed throughout the night on March 1. The only items supporting the tarp were a ladder positioned adjacent to the wooden porch that was repurposed as a stage and a basketball hoop wrapped with soft string lights. Shoes gradually sank in the dense mud that enveloped the area as everyone peeked at the three men on stage tuning their instruments. The biting cold nipped at our fingertips and noses — Eugene forecasted snow later in the night. Nevertheless, anticipation filled the air as everyone eagerly awaited the three men to debut their first performance together as Louise.
“I thought no one was going to be there,” Christian Boyd, the bassist for the band, said. “It was literally snowing this morning and we were thinking about moving the show but everyone already had the address. We ended up tarping the whole thing and a ton of people showed up.”
Their performance at the Little Blue House on 18th Avenue ignited a surge of energy among the audience, which enthusiastically shouted and cheered them on. The front of the crowd formed a sprawling mosh pit that sent mud flying in all directions, but regardless, everyone wore smiles on their faces.
Louise consists of three band members: Jason Hess on drums, Boyd on the bass and Bradley Killeen as the frontman. Although they pursued individual projects, they came together and formed Louise under Killeen’s initiative.
Killeen moved to Eugene from Redlands, Calif., with pre-recorded songs on hand, some of which he incorporated in his Louise EP on Spotify. Sensing his music wouldn’t align with his local scene, he left his hometown in search of a space where his music could thrive and where he could find meaningful friendships.
“A lot of people that I was around didn’t feel like very close or real friends anymore, but these dudes and the friends we have are some of the most amazing people I’ve ever been around in my life,” Killeen said. “We can joke around and be funny but also very sentimental, heartfelt and caring.”
The trio first connected through a mutual friend from Hess’ other band, Solution Honey. Hess is the shared drummer for Solution Honey and Louise, whereas Killeen and Boyd collaborate in another band called Cowboyd. As they spent more time interacting and playing sessions, bonds of friendship solidified. At one point, Hess lived in Killeen’s garage. Eventually, Killeen invited Hess and Boyd to work on some of his compositions, encouraging them to add their twist.
“None of it was very serious or intentional — it was kind of just hanging out with friends and the last few times we practiced, we were like, ‘This is kind of fun,’” Killeen said.
After rehearsing several of Killeen’s songs and delivering strong, cohesive endings, they realized that they had the potential to perform together as a band. “It came together way better than everything that happened before,” he said.
Louise’s music style is influenced by early ‘90s slow emo and punk with a hint of folk. They draw inspiration from groups like Algernon Cadwallader and Fugazi. “Whatever the middle ground of emo and screamo is, that’s what we are,” Boyd said.
They adopt a spontaneous approach to music. In Killeen’s songwriting process, instrumentation takes precedence, typically starting with guitar, followed by the lyrics. Once the majority of the song is complete, he revisits his process and does it a few more times. When he is content with it, he asks Boyd and Hess to play it and provide feedback. They sit in a room and play the song, and if they hear something appealing, they keep it and integrate it into the song.
At the house show, Louise performed a song titled “Morning Walk,” which was dedicated to Killeen’s dog, Louise. His dog is also named after his grandmother whose middle name served as the inspiration. The name was originally a placeholder for the band but eventually stuck.
When performing, one of the key successes the trio hopes to have is to transfer their energy from the stage to the audience, cultivating a connection while this group of friends provides music for their enjoyment. They usually show their excitement by jumping around and attempting backflips (though the outcome is not always successful).
“I’m very proud of [Killeen] and the stuff that he’s done,” Hess said. “He’s had to learn how to break into a scene from scratch. I hoped that people like Louise and that Brad is able to show people what he’s capable of.”
Killeen, Boyd and Hess simply enjoy each other’s company as they frequently spend weekends playing video games, jamming out and even tattooing each other. Their journey as Louise is more than just making music — it’s about celebrating their friendship and exploring creative endeavors. As they take the stage, they invite us all to be a part of their journey — one filled with laughter, punk music and strong friendships.
