Kevin Hill



Projects by Kevin Hill

Bonding, Brotherhood and Backyard Functions: Local college rock band reminisces on their beginnings and what their next step is.

By: Kevin Hill Brynn Schwartzman and Janiya Beason BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (April 3, 2025)-

A group of talented college students, all with different musical skills come together to create a unique sound that’s quickly gaining attention both on and off campus. The band Backyard Function is a student-run ensemble formed two years ago, and though they’ve evolved through different eras over the years, they’re proving that college bands are more than just a way to pass the time, but a way to really capture people’s attention and direct it to the local Bloomington music scene.
The band Backyard Function may be Bloomington’s hidden gem. It is composed of seven members, all trained in their craft. Members of the band consist of Aly the lead singer, Lucas the guitarist, Garrick the bassist, Peter the keyboardist, Mike the drummer, and lastly Nate the saxophonist. Each individual brings a different energy to the group that makes them a distinct bunch as a whole. From what we’ve gathered, Backyard Function is a cover band that does music anywhere from upbeat, to more of a chill vibe. So far, most of their gigs are at fraternity parties, and a local bar called Bluebird, but at times they book to play more private events as well.
This treasured band originally was founded by one of the band members’ older brother. The saxophonist Nate’s older brother originally created a band from a music club called Bloomington Delta Music Club. They formed a band and named it “Street Pennies”; this band was rooted mostly in blues influence. Years later when Nate joined the band his brother had already graduated, and the band went on to be named “Subject to Change”. They played a couple of shows together but eventually the upperclassmen that took part in that band graduated as well, and that is when Backyard Function was finally born.
We took the liberty of interviewing two members of the band, starting out with the saxophonist and one of the founders, Nate Cook. In his interview, when Nate describes how Backyard Function came together, he recounts it as some of the people he was in the previous band with, and some of his buddies that are in his fraternity had diverse musical talents like piano, guitar, singing, etc. and they thought it would be cool to mesh their talents and play music together, so they started recruiting more people.
When asked “How has the band grown?” Nate expressed his joy for how comfortable the band has gotten with working together and performing in front of crowds. He claims they have more chemistry, stronger stage presence, better scheduling habits, and that each individual in the band is getting better at their specific talents, whether it’s singing or playing an instrument. The interviewer also asked Nate if he had any hopes for the band. To which he answered, he just wants them to enjoy their time together while they’re here. Although Nate graduates soon and has plans of going on to become a lawyer, he still stated that he could absolutely see himself in a band again after college is over. “It’s been a great opportunity playing at the bird all the time. It’s been probably one of my favorite parts of college, and certainly one of my favorite parts of my musical career.” Emphasizing how meaningful music has been in his life so far. The last piece of advice Nate had to offer was how important it is to network, reach out, and meet people. Connections and socializing is crucial when it comes to anything in the music field. “… don’t be afraid to get out of your cocoon and be positive. I don’t think anyone wants to work with a negative person.”
The next band member interviewed was Will Zay, the lead guitarist and vocalist, as well as another founding member of the band. Will started out in the original band “Street Pennies” much like Nate, during his sophomore year with some friends of his. They played a couple of shows during the end of that year, but the upperclassmen went on to graduate. They continued to play as “Subject to Change” but went on to become Backyard Function.
During the interview Will was also asked “How have you seen the band grow?” Will states the biggest thing he’s noticed is people recognizing them and coming up to them saying they’ve enjoyed the show. He said they’ve just been getting a lot more recognition and praise compared to when they first started booking shows two years ago. When describing what the first gig was like, he recalls that not very many people were in attendance. They were doing an opening set for another band, and only his friends and some girls from a sorority showed up, but he still describes it as “the most memorable show” because the people who actually did attend were so energetic and encouraging. Will left us with a last piece of advice to close out the interview “Be open, there’s a lot of musicians out there, and a lot of people you can reach out to.”
Overall, for now the band remains grounded, focused on the music, and eager for what’s next. They’re enjoying this last month on campus together, booked and busy before the school year ends, and spending time together as friends before some of them graduate and go their separate ways. Backyard Function is one of the many hidden creative talents we have here at IU Bloomington, and we’re excited to see what they do next.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-YGHHUt2XvL3QruC6CmmETlMGb7mRz5f/view?usp=sharing 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yS97KIdou7XPF2f_clx0QMrsWoOf29hr/view?usp=sharing

Backyard Function bassist, Garrick Ton, soaks up the bonding moments during rehearsal. He cherishes these fun times trying to figure out their next gig.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZuIAMzqZlXevaP2b0X3T3fiR7e3H-MC_/view?usp=sharing

Backyard Function guitarist and lead singer, Will Zay, searches for a new song to perform on their upcoming set list. He suggests popular Bruce Springsteen song, Glory Days.

Apple Unveils the Brand New Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2014

Media Contacts: 

Laila Baluk- lbaluk@iu.edu

Jordan Brown- jnb10@iu.edu

Kevin Hill- khil@iu.edu

Apple Unveils the Future of Wearable Technology with the All-New Apple Watch

 

CUPERTINO, California (Sep 9, 2014)- Apple Inc. announced its first-ever smartwatch, the Apple Watch, at a September 9, 2014, event at the Flint Center at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. The Apple Watch is designed to revolutionize how people track their health, stay connected, and interact with the digital world beyond their phones. This watch, available in multiple styles featuring a sleek design, health-tracking capabilities, and integration with the iPhone, the Apple Watch is Apple’s first step into wearable technology. The Apple Watch is Apple’s most personal device yet created. The technology is a new way to connect to the world, a tool to maintain an active lifestyle and access information from your handheld device. Every detail provides a truly personal experience for all users. 

“You know what has driven Apple from the beginning; this compulsion to take incredibly powerful technology and make it accessible, relevant, and ultimately personal,” said Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Design. “We’ve designed a range of products so personal, you won’t put them on your desk or in your pocket, you wear them on your wrist. We conceived, designed, and developed Apple watch as a completely singular product.” 

Workin
The Apple Watch showcasing its efficiency in a person’s busy lifestyle. Emily Carter utilizes the watch’s time management and notification features to stay focused while scavenging the job market and her email on her laptop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The device features a customizable watch face with interchangeable bands, allowing users to navigate effortlessly with a small screen on the wrist. These customization options ensure that the Apple Watch is not only simple technology but also a fashion statement that fits into users’ daily lives. The watch is available in three collections: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch, each crafted uniquely with aluminum, stainless steel, and 18-karat yellow or rose gold casing. These editions have a retina display, heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope equipped with a speaker, Bluetooth, and up to 18 hours of battery life. The customizable watch face with the option of interchangeable bands makes it a day-to-day technology and a stylish accessory for the wrist. The Apple MagSafe technology makes the Apple Watch available in 38 mm and 42mm sizes, with quality performing bands for different users. 

“When you are notified of things on Apple Watch, we’re using the tactic engine to give you feedback on your wrist,” said Kevin Lynch, Apple’s Vice President. “It’s just like somebody tapping you on the wrist very gently, and even if you are sitting right next to someone, they won’t be able to tell you’re getting notified; it’s very subtle. But you’ll feel it on your own wrist. You can choose what information, of course, will come and notify you on your watch.”

The Apple Watch appeals to a broad range of consumers. From athletes to business professionals, this device offers versatility in both aesthetics and functionality. Each collection is carefully crafted to reflect Apple’s commitment to high-end materials and craftsmanship. Whether worn by a doctor, business professional, or athlete, the device offers a combination of features that meet the needs of all. 

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The Apple Watch demonstrating its unique lifestyle capacities. Alex Baker enjoys using the capabilities of the watch to count his macros and nutritions whilst cooking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the ultimate device for a healthy life, the Apple Watch can do what other devices aren’t able to because of the automatic health insights that connect to the most advanced features to improve health. The watch tracks when you sleep and helps you create a healthier bedtime schedule and routine. The watch marks your REM sleep, Core sleep, and Deep sleep with vitals like heart rate, sleep duration, and respiratory rate. It marks when a users heart has irregular or unusually high rates, which could be signs of severe conditions. The quick alerts notify the user of all irregularities. The Apple Watch offers features to stay in touch just through your wrist to simply text, call, and listen to music.  The Digital Touch features allow you to draft a text using your fingers and send it with a swift touch. Apps include calendars, music, maps, and weather, similar to the apps available on the iPhone. Siri communication allows users to dictate messages without typing them out. The ease of zooming and scrolling and navigating features provide a quick way to find numerous apps, seamlessly connected with the iPhone. Compatible with the iPhone 5 and later models, the Apple Watch connects with user information to answer calls, send texts, and control music directly from the wrist. 

The Apple Watch will be available for purchase starting at $349 and available to run with the latest IOS. This new device represents a new start to wearable technology that is practical for all everyday users of the iPhone. It perfectly blends into the existing Apple products to redefine how users interact with new technologies Apple creates. 

Apple Ceo Tim Cook shows off the Apple Watch’s revolutionary new features. The “Digital Crown” allows the user to navigate the Apple Watch without obstructing the screen while the Fitness and Workout out aid users in their pursuit of being physically fit.

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