Law Student’s Rock Band Releases Third CD

Seth Floyd ’10 and his band, Cherry Hill, will be releasing their third CD and performing this weekend at Wasted Space inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Their show will start at 9 p.m. on June 13.

Seth Floyd ’10 performing with Cherry Hill.

Floyd joined Cherry Hill during his first semester at the Boyd School of Law. After a short audition, band members Brandon Kiser (vocals), Jared Owen (Bass), Matt James (guitar), and Jamie Urcioli (drums) invited him to perform with them.

Originally named Copperpot, the band formed in 1995 and later became Cherry Hill in 2003 with their self-released debut album, “The Struggle”. They released a second album, “Things Happen Naturally,” and were nearly through production of their third album when they discovered Floyd, a guitar and keyboard player.

The band’s third album, “Awakenings,” is being released with an acoustic EP called “Words Left Unsaid.” Though James and Kiser are the primary songwriters, Floyd co-wrote most of the songs on the acoustic EP.

Q&A: Seth Floyd, third-year law student

When did you join Cherry Hill and how did you meet?
I joined the band in November of 2007. At the time, I was playing with another local band that recorded in the same studio as Cherry Hill so I heard their music all the time.  About a year before I joined the band, I attended one of their shows and really enjoyed the music and the live performance so I started asking our producer if they needed a rhythm guitar player. He put me in touch with Matt (the other guitar player) and, after about a year of asking for an audition, they invited me to a practice. I fit pretty well with what they do so they asked me to play their next show a week later and I learned most of the songs live onstage (talk about scary!). I've been playing with them ever since.

Cherry Hill, from left: Brandon Kiser, Jared Owen, Jamie Urcioli, Matthew James, and Seth Floyd.

When was the band formed? What inspired you to make music together?
The founding members of the band started playing together in 1995. I believe that their main motivation was that they were cut from the high school baseball team and they needed something to do with their down time. I started playing guitar about 14 years ago and I have been in several bands in North Carolina and Las Vegas.

What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
The most appropriate label for Cherry Hill is probably Pop/Rock with a little bit of blues and alt country mixed in. Major influences are Led Zeppelin, Ryan Adams, Old Crowe Medicine Show, and The Black Crowes.

Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Wasted Space inside the Hard Rock, House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay, The Beauty Bar, Freakin' Frog, VOX Wine Lounge. I love Wasted Space for a loud, electric show because it has a great sound system and the crowd's energy level is always high. Also, the House of Blues has a back room in its restaurant that is set up like the inside of a church and that venue has a great vibe for acoustic shows. 

Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
We play a few covers (Led Zeppelin, Ryan Adams, Sublime, Jimi Hendrix) but mostly perform our own songs. Our set list changes with every show and often changes on the fly depending on the mood of the crowd.

Who writes your songs?
Matt James and Brandon Kiser are the primary songwriters, though each of us write our own parts once the main format of the song is done. On the acoustic EP (called "Words Left Unsdaid" and available with purchase of the new full-length album, "Awakenings"), I co-wrote most of the songs with Matt and Brandon.

What CDs have you recorded and how can I get a copy?
Cherry Hill has released two cds, "The Struggle" and "Things Happen Naturally," and is about to release its third album called "Awakenings," along with an acoustic EP called "Words Left Unsaid."  The new albums will be available at our cd release show at Wasted Space inside the Hard Rock on June 13 for $10 (for both) or on iTunes and cdbaby on June 16.

What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
We typically only rehearse when we have an upcoming show and rehearsals are, like our shows, very spontaneous. That said, this band is definitely better when we're onstage in front of a crowd because we really enjoy the performance aspect of music. Personally, I also really like recording because the studio is a controlled environment and you can fix your mistakes! When we're playing live you only get one shot...

As a law student, how do you manage your time between school and the band?
I think surviving law school requires a healthy balance of school and non-school activities. Music is my release from hours and hours of reading, and I think that having a creative outlet makes me a better law student because escaping from the books for a bit to focus on something else keeps me mentally sharp and ready for the next task. 

I try to keep to a typical 8-6 schedule for studying so that my nights are free for rehearsal or other activities. This way, I can keep my law school life and my music hobby separate. However, during my first year, I did go straight to a show after the Clark County oral argument competition and I had to change out of my suit backstage just before we had to play. My bandmates don't know much about my life at Boyd and I like to keep it that way because it's nice to escape from the stress and competition of law school. Many students become overwhelmed by the law school experience because they don't have enough activities outside of the classroom.  

Has your experience as a musician or performer helped you in law school, or conversely, has your experience in law school helped your music career?
I think that playing music has definitely helped with law school. Most importantly, it provides an outlet for stress and gives me something to focus on other than school. For me, it's important to have lots of different things going on in my life and music gives me that opportunity. Also, playing music helped me connect socially with my classmates because I was able to bring a lot of people together at the band's shows. As a summer clerk at a Las Vegas law firm, being in a band provided a talking point and conversation starter with my co-workers and that made it easier to connect with them.    

How does performing on stage compare to giving a presentation in class or participating in a mock trial in law school?
Speaking publicly, as in a mock trial or a class presentation, is very similar to performing on stage. Because both require confidence, poise, and preparation, playing music has helped prepare me for success in law school just as competing in oral argument competitions and giving presentations has helped with my confidence and comfort level on stage with Cherry Hill.

What are your music career goals?
Currently, music is simply a passion that I am lucky enough to be able to pursue as a hobby. Unfortunately, it's also an expensive hobby so it's probably best that I pursue a real legal job so that I can afford to keep playing music! It's very difficult to make a living playing music, so for now I'm content to continue writing, recording, and performing locally in Las Vegas.

What are your long-term career goals? Any plans to pursue a career in entertainment law or a related field? What area(s) of law are you most interested in?
While I think entertainment law would be an awesome career, I don't have current plans to practice in that field.  However, I am definitely open to that practice area if I have an opportunity to try it out. 

Prior to law school, I was a city planner and lobbyist for the city of Las Vegas during the 2007 session of the Nevada legislature.  Building upon those experiences, I'd like to practice land use law and/or government affairs.

Have you had any externships or other jobs while attending law school? Have you been involved with any other activities?
Externships:  Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau during the 2009 session
Activities:  Student Bar Association Vice President; Society of Advocates; Senior Executive Lieutenant Governor for the 14th Circuit of the ABA Student Division
Jobs:  Summer Clerk for McDonald Carano Wilson  

Do you know of any other law students who play in a band? What advice would you give them?
I know several other talented musicians at Boyd.  My only advice is that if you are passionate about something, don't let anything stop you from pursuing it (even law school!).

How can fans gain access to your music?
Anyone can check us out at www.myspace.com/cherryhill or download our albums from iTunes.  You can also contact me to purchase any of our available cds.