by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Last summer, Ehren Natay was getting ready for another semester at UNM and working with his local band, Donnybrooke.
Now, less than a year later, the student-turned-drummer is touring in the up-and-coming Forget McCarran, an indie-punk band from Las Vegas, Nev. Last July, the band was looking for a drummer, so Natay flew out to Las Vegas for a tryout.
When he found out he had been selected to join the band, his life was turned upside down, he said.
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"It all moved so fast," Natay said. "I had to leave my band, school, family, friends and my dog - everything. I didn't really have time to be emotional."
Natay said he flew out to Las Vegas, where Forget McCarran auditioned 15 drummers. Natay said he was confident he would fit in with the band.
"They made me wait an entire three days before telling me, even though it was obvious from the first song we ever played together that we were meant to be in this band together," Natay said.
He said he had immediate chemistry with the members of the band and was excited Forget McCarran was going in the same musical direction as he was.
"When I got out there, and they showed me the new stuff, I told them, 'Wow. This is exactly the music I want to be playing,'" Natay said. "It's so weird because they were onto the same sound that I had been trying to find with my band at the time."
Not everything was perfect about Natay's decision to move to Las Vegas and join the band. Natay had to leave behind his project Donnybrooke, which also meant leaving behind bassist and close friend Lenny Lujan. Natay said Lujan was upset with him after he left Albuquerque, but he knew leaving Donnybrooke was something he had to do.
"At the time, we were really struggling as a band," Natay said. "We kicked out both of our guitarists and were trying out new people every week. So when I got the offer, I jumped at it."
Little did Natay know he would soon be reunited with his old bandmate. Bassist Steve Grisanti left the band last month to go back to school, and Forget McCarran was in need of a replacement. Natay said Lujan was the first name that came to mind, so he flew out to Las Vegas and was added to the lineup after a tryout.
Natay said Forget McCarran has been playing shows in cities such as Anaheim, Los Angeles, Dallas and Phoenix. He said touring the big cities has been a fun experience.
"It's been amazing," Natay said. "We have been playing to bigger and bigger crowds. Knowing that all those people came to hear your music is so incredibly exciting that I just can't contain myself sometimes."
Although the band would like to be seen as more of a pure rock band, Natay said the fact that indie-rock is so popular right now can help the band succeed.
"It's hard because we feel like we are just straight up rock 'n' roll, but most people identify us as indie-pop rock," Natay said. "It will definitely help. The music is definitely moving in our direction."
Forget McCarran will be touring the next few months with stops throughout the Southwest. Natay said he is thrilled to play with his new band in front of fans in his home state.
"I am so excited to be back in New Mexico," Natay said. "The kids in New Mexico are awesome. They are so into the music and so appreciative. They really make it easy to put on a good show."
Forget McCarran
May 14, 7 p.m.
Launchpad, 618 Central Ave. S.W.
$10
