Houston Chronicle Feature: Houston band East of Eado heading in the right direction
Houston band East of Eado featuring, left to right, Patrick Stowers, Trey Coy, Sam White, Alex Gefers and Kevin Babin Photo: Philip Emerson
Describing themselves as “ambient energy,” East of Eado is a band who has had a meteoric rise in the Houston area and recorded two EPs over the course of the last eighteen months. The group has become well-known for a party atmosphere and potent way of blending dark lyrics with infectious, upbeat music.
Back in January, they played to a packed upstairs show at White Oak Music Hall, quite a feat for a band less than three years old, if you count the start from when vocalist Alex Gefers joined three years ago. That White Oak gig was one of the defining moments for the group.
“The place was packed, shoulder to shoulder and front to back,” says bassist Trey Coy. “Looking out, it wasn’t about how good we were or where we were at. It was about who we all were.”
“The energy was there, the audience singing… it was all I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” says Gefers. “I ran out into the crowd because I wanted to be with them right in that moment.”
It was the introduction of Gefers that cemented the group into the powerhouse it’s become. Though each member of the band brings his own style, he is the lyricist and works closely with guitarist Patrick Stowers, the main songwriter. Gefers’ membership put the final catalyst in the mix that helped pull everything together.
“East of Eado is meant to represent Houston from all the different music styles of the city,” says Coy, whose family owns Hustle Town Distribution, the local company responsible for albums from Bun B and DJ Screw. “We all put our pieces together for songs like ‘Dripping Gold.’ We need screams and a rap breakdown and everything.”