Riding Waves of Success: Sailors Make it Big In Local Music Scene
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class(SW) Matthew D. Leistikow, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. Ð What started out as a fellow Sailor filling in for another has turned shipmates into not only friends, but "Chasing Corona," a local band getting lots of attention.
That attention is what has the dance floor packed with people, singing along with every note Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class(SW) Cole Childers belts into his microphone as Information Systems Technician 1st Class(EXW/SW/AW) Brian Farley's fingers slide along his guitar.
"When I looked up and realized everyone was singing along, I got goose bumps," said Childers, lead singer for Chasing Corona.
The song, "Sand to Stone," has had nearly a year of airplay on a local radio station in Norfolk, Va., and the band is gaining more popularity with each live performance.
"Chasing Corona has some of the most talented, hungry local musicians I've ever seen come out of Hampton Roads," said Zak Tyler, music director for MAX-FM and host of their morning show.
With a local single playing on the air waves before even signing a record deal, Chasing Corona has come together around two Sailors who met and became friends under some unusual circumstances.
Childers, assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 and Farley, assigned to Inshore Boat Unit 42, met on a port visit to Aqaba, Jordan while both were on deployment with the same Expeditionary Strike Group in 2005.
"We had gotten word that each ship had a band before we pulled in so we decided we were going to have a little battle of the bands thing down on the pier," Farley recalled. "It basically ended up just being we play a set, they play a set, and then back and forth pretty much the whole night."
Farley's connection to Childers ignited when Childers first performed.
"As soon as he [Childers] started singing my jaw hit the floor," said Farley about his lead singer. "He was so passionate about music and the way that he sang."
Childers was equally impressed with Farley's ability on guitar. One night Childers' guitar player from the Widbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) was on duty, so Farley stepped in.
Senior Chief Operations Specialist(SW/AW) Howard "Andy" Sutter, Chasing Corona's manager, had helped set up the event which was set for one final performance from each band.
"Sunday was going to be the big show," said Sutter. "Everybody was hyped up between the two ships."
All plans for music ended abruptly when three Katyusha rockets were fired on the outskirts of Aqaba, Aug. 19, 2005, flying over AshlandÕs bow.
Ashland's fire party helped rush both ships' music equipment on board after everything else was secure. As navigator for Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 20, Sutter delivered Farley's gear to him. Farley and Childers agreed to keep in touch and discussed teaming up when they got home.
While under way Childers discussed via e-mail Farley's talent with his bass player back in the states, Greg Burroughs.
"When he got home, Cole and I got together and I told him I wanted to meet Brian," said Burroughs. "It was such a unique story that even when you're in that situation, over in a foreign country, being shot at, and yet some of the things that make you truly American, rock and roll, and the freedom to make your own music; they still go on."
Farley's audition and musical philosophy made him too good a guitarist to let slip away.
"We just thought too much alike when it came to music," said Childers. "I'd written six originals when I was under way and I brought them with me when we met up again. After seeing the lyrics, Brian added a little more flair on the guitar and that's what we have."
Farley's musical flair fit nicely with Childers' captivating vocals.
"There's something very, very special about Cole," said Farley. "Just on raw talent alone, he is probably the most talented vocalist I've ever had the pleasure of playing with."
Just about the only thing the group couldn't agree on was a name for their band.
"Jake [a coworker] had mentioned one day something about, "I'm sick of going to Cole's house and chasing that dog out the door all the time," said Childers, referring to his dog Corona, who is famous for his love of running around in a game of chase.
Sutter plucked the name Chasing Corona from that conversation and a new and unique band name was born.
Once the band felt everything was in place, Burroughs had the idea to enter a contest that would help local children, and give their music career the boost it needed. A local radio station was running a "Toys for Tots Battle of the Bands" contest.
"First of all it was a great cause," said Burroughs. "That year the contest raised $5,000."
Based on listeners' votes via Internet, Chasing Corona gained enough momentum to carry them into the finals where they eventually won the contest, allowing the band a chance to have one of their singles played on the radio.
That was the beginning and they are still at it today. Check the Splash band calendar for listings.
 

"After they won battle of the bands they brought me their six song demo," said Tyler about Chasing Corona's CD, "Something Wrong With Me." "There was one song that really stuck out in my head and I asked them about it."
The band was looking to debut their song "Your Demise," but Tyler fought for the song he couldn't get out of his head.
"I talked with Andy, the manager, and told him, "This Sand to Stone" is catchy, it's now, it just has that feel and it has the hook that is just going to drag listeners into it," said Tyler.
The radio host's perspective proved correct with the feedback the song received.
"We got a lot of initial phone calls and actually a big Navy response to them," recalled Tyler. "They're huge with the Navy guys because they're active duty and they definitely self promote all over the base."
The response wasn't limited to the Navy population.
"After a month or so our regular listeners, our civilian listeners, started catching on saying, "Wow, who is this band?" That's unheard of for a local band on the radio; for the program director to get one or two calls a week about this unknown band," said Tyler.
The band was equally happy to hear the song hit the airwaves.
"We were getting coffee and as we pulled up it started playing," said Burroughs. "We sat there in the car with the motor off and the speakers blaring, and people were coming out just wondering, "What are these guys doing?"
Childers and Farley agree their commands have done much more than they expected to help Chasing Corona work toward their dream.
"The Navy has allowed me and encouraged me to play my music, especially when we're under way," said Childers. "I've had nothing but 150 percent support from my chain of command."
That support recently increased when Childers, Sutters and Farley's commands sent the Sailors to this year's Fleet Week in New York, giving them a chance to open for George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars at Webster Hall.
"It was really cool because the first thing we said when we got up on stage was, "We're in the Navy!" just to show people we're in this really cool show opening for George Clinton" said Childers. "Watching fellow military from every branch just rock out and have a good time meant a lot."
Recently the band added drummer Christopher "Chris" Snader, who has given a lot of himself to them in the spirit of music.
"I want people to know I've been handed a wonderful privilege to play with these guys and my one goal is to make the best of it," said Snader. "We're always striving to be better. We're always striving to put on a good show, and I think when everyone has that common goal, you can't miss."
With Sutter at the helm as manager the band is working harder than ever to bring anyone who listens to their music a good time, and although they try to play a few shows a month, they never forget their Navy obligations come first.
"There have been many times that we've had to cancel shows because of Navy commitments," said Sutter. "Our Navy jobs have to come first, and this is secondary."
It's an enormous secondary according to Farley, but regardless of how much work they give the Navy through the week, Chasing Corona is known as a band to be counted on when you need a good show on short notice.
"One of the things that impresses me most about Chasing Corona as a band is they are so giving and such real people," said Tyler, who keeps in touch with the band. "They really want to touch as many people as possible. I go to them in a pinch if I have a band back out of an event. All I have to do is pick up the phone and with hours or even just a day's notice, they'll show up and put on an exemplary show. They're selfless in a selfish industry."
Chasing Corona is preparing for their second "Rock for Tots Battle of the Bands" scheduled for Dec. 16 and writing more material for a full-length CD scheduled for release next summer.
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