NE student leaves classroom to go on tour with his band

By Colt Langley/sports editor

About to embark on a nine-month national tour with his band Carotid in July, NE student Zach Rose said he won’t have time for school anytime soon.

Rose, who has played the guitar for about seven and a half years, joined the band Carotid nine and a half months ago. In the past eight months, he has been asked to learn only eight songs.

Carotid was first formed in 2003. Since then, the band has gone through two rhythm guitar players with Rose being the second.

NE student Zach Rose practices his guitar before his band, Carotid, goes on a nationwide tour. Colt Langley/The Collegian
NE student Zach Rose practices his guitar before his band, Carotid, goes on a nationwide tour. Colt Langley/The Collegian

Rose was first noticed by the band through a Web site called bandmix.com. The site houses classified ads for musicians and other performing artists.

When he was first contacted by band members, he was asked to send them two things: a picture of him to see what he looked liked and a video of him playing two of his original songs.

After about a month and a half, the band called him back to set up an audition, where he was asked to play his original songs and previously written Carotid songs.

Since then, Rose has been a band member and played a few local concerts. When describing the music of Carotid, Rose said it is nothing like he or anyone has heard before.

“It’s dystopian. It’s not like the end of the world but the end of civilization,” he said.

Rose also said that since he has joined Carotid, it has been easy but also difficult at times to mesh.

“Because the lead guitar player in the band is so good, it has been difficult learning the rhythms behind what he is playing,” he said. “For me, it definitely is easier and more fun writing new material with them because we all share similar influences.”

During their tour, Carotid will be playing six shows a week. For each show, the band will be paid $200 to $300 plus merchandise sales. The group will travel to places such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Miami. Out of all the cities, Rose said he’s looking forward to the cities in California the most.

Rose’s father thinks the tour will be a good experience for him.

“I’m excited for my son to grow up and live his dream while he’s young, and he’ll never look back wondering, ‘Would I have made it?’” Greg Rose said.

His mother does not share the same sentiment.

“As a mother, I fear for his safety and well-being, and I have a fear for the unknown,” Renee Rose said.

Although Rose is only 20 years old and not of legal drinking age, he does not think age will get in his way.

“I wish I was another year older, but most bars don’t care for band members’ [ages] anyway,” he said. “For shows that we have played, each member has gotten a free pitcher [of beer] as well as gotten paid.”

Outside his life in music, Rose is an entrepreneur. With his business partner Matt Kirk, Rose is part-owner of the company Classic Home Theater.

Right now, Rose has taken time off from school so he can work full time and save money for the tour this summer.

“I’m really excited about the tour,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. I really hope people enjoy our music.”