Currents Magazine Fall 2013

Dimitri
Jo
Zac
Greg
Kevin
Straubel, met through a mutual friend and discovered
that they both played guitar. One day they decided to
“jam” together and were both impressed with one another’s
talent. Both Enstrom and Straubel knew friends with
other musical talents and found themselves with the urge
to start a band.
Alumnus Dimitri Smith (‘13), a wicked pianist and
composer, was next in joining the newly formed band,
and alumnus Greg Wenhold’s (‘13) “metal like” drumming
skills earned him the spot as drummer. Straubel’s
childhood friend, senior Zac Fielder, was the last member
to join the band as bass guitarist.
Last January, the band was asked to play for a spot on a
Pepperdine TV Show, “The Gallery.” The night before the
show, the band came to the realization that they did not
have a name for the band yet.
With this, they decided to lock themselves in a room
in the basement of the music building and brainstorm a
name for their band on a whiteboard.
“We knew we had to pick a good one because we knew
it was going to stick,” Enstrom said.
After frantically writing ideas on the whiteboard, one
finally stuck, Love & Thanks. The band formulated their
name as a play off two common phrases musicians’ say
when wrapping up a show: “Love you all,” and “Thanks
for coming out tonight”.
The whole band is very appreciative of the good things
that have been coming their way.
“We are thankful for and love all those who love our
music,” Enstrom said.
The band agrees that the best part about being in a
band is that they get paid for doing what they love and do
it with their best friends.
The perks of being best friends in a band is being able
to spontaneously write a song on a whim, like in the parking
lot of an In-N-Out.
Collectively, the band enjoys folk and heartwarming
music, therefore, they write music that they would want
to listen to themselves.
The band writes their songs whenever they are all together
and are always thinking about their music when
they’re apart.
“It’s a 24-hours a day, seven days a week thought process,”
Enstrom said.
Each of the band members records clips of music,
which they then send to each others’ phones and often
times get inspired by or build off of it. They are also inspired
by one another and teach each other how to play
other instruments.
“I really appreciate all the good ideas everyone puts in,”
48 | Currents