The history of Delta IX isn’t all that exciting, but it can still give you a good idea about our roots.  Delta IX is the fourth coming of a cellar-based Webster, MA alternative rock band.  All the members, past and present, have grown up together as good friends since elementary school.  If memory serves us right (which could be a real problem), the band was first formed in 1993, when we were all in the seventh grade.  The original line-up consisted of Jon on his first set “Old Blue”, Bryan on guitar, Eric on bass (once he bought one, that is), and Niam providing another guitar and vocals.  We decided on the name “Tombstone” and did what most 13 year-olds did: played real loud, real bad.  That being said, it was safe to say that we never gigged out.  The band would play occasionally and was never really taken too seriously by its members.
        About the time that 8th grade was rolling around, we changed our name to “BENJ” (bet you can’t figure out that acronym) and picked up another one of our friends, Derek, as “manager”.  Obviously, the position wasn’t all that too difficult and we soon became quite impressed with Dee’s lyrical abilities.  However, eighth grade was yet another year of real loud, real bad.  It was not until the summer before freshman year that we actually started thinking seriously about playing a show.  During that timeframe, it was decided that Derek and Niam would share the vocal duties and a bonus was that Bryan had started teaching Derek the basics of guitar.
        The official debut of BENJ was at Eric’s 15th birthday; the show consisted of a mixture of covers and originals for about 20 of our closest buds.  We wouldn’t exactly call the show a complete masterpiece, but then again whose first show ever is?  The next and final show for BENJ was at another birthday, this time at one of our fan’s homes.
        However, just when it seemed like things we starting to come together, our bowl was instantly cashed.  After a two-week summer vacation down South, Jon came home with the news that he was moving to Florida.  This seemed like deathblow to the band, for not only were we losing our drummer, but we were also losing one of our most valued buds.  The only good thing that probably came out of this bad news was that it kicked our asses into gear to put together a farewell show for Jon.  We decided on another name change, Ounce, not only to honor Jon, but pay homage to one of our new found hobbies.  The show went over great, complete with a post-show celebratory gathering at the Amazon.  Soon after though, reality set in and we were forced to say goodbye to a close friend.  After everything was packed (a few times, no less), Jon flew south and it seemed like the end of the road for the band.
        The years of tenth and eleventh grade were tough on the band.  Faced with playing without a backbeat, the music just didn’t seem the same.  The four remaining members practiced a few times but nothing ever materialized.  It seemed as if everyone went their own separate ways during this time.  Jon was playing with his new school in Florida, Niam started a new band with a new sound, Bryan started playing with some new people, Eric picked up the bass occasionally, and Derek’s new best friend became his guitar.
        At the end of junior year, everyone got some good news: Jon was coming up for the entire summer.  With this in mind, we were all whacked with the realization that this was another chance for the band.  Everyone geared up for a big “reunion” show and the first thing that Jon did in Webster was buy a new set.  The only difference in the lineup was that Niam was already heavily involved with his new project and the band was forced to go on as a quartet.
        Our original goal for the summer was to construct a decent set list and perform a show right before Jon had to return to Florida.  As the last month of summer rolled around, the band received some news that would change its future forever.  It seems that Jon’s family realized that he was having the time of his life up in MA with all his buds and gave him the opportunity to stay and complete high school back in his hometown.  So, with that fateful decision, we knew that we had the chance take full advantage of all living in the same town again.
        It was also around that time that Bryan became known as Z and with his name change he decided that the band should also have an equally cool name.  Hence, after “brainstorming” with his pal Herb for a day or two, Delta IX was born.  The first show for Delta IX was a Halloween show with four other local bands.  The show was set in the basement of one of our friend's homes.  Overall, both the members of the band and the fans present thought of the performance as an overall success.  This was all the motivation we needed to continue on and look towards more gigs in the near future.
        Our next stop was at a recently opened local club named Funny Bones Cafe'.  We enjoyed the club's atmosphere and the convenient local location helped us gain a respectable fanbase.  Another added bonus was that two of our friends from another band had taken over the booking duties at FBC and were more than happy to give us several gigs.  Besides Funny Bones, we also played shows like headlining an all-day rock fest at the beach, a talent show at Bartlett High School, several graduation parties, and one memorable benefit show in Greenfield, MA.
        While we had gained a pretty good following in the surrounding few towns, Delta IX was still relatively just a small-town local rock band.  However, toward the very end of summer, we received an offer that would help us break into the city of Worchester’s music scene.  One of our friend's bands needed an opener at Cafe' ABBA, Worcester and thought that we might jump at the chance.  This offer turned out to be the perfect opportunity for Delta IX, for not only was it a show where we could we finally get out of Webster, but a show where we could also release our newly finished debut CD: Random Acts of Highness.
        The show was a great success, for not only did we end up getting to headline, but we also sold out of our CDs.  However, there was one last pirk of playing this show.  The day of Derek's graduation/going away party, we received a phone call from a Worcester DJ that had been at our show.  "Captain PJ" had liked our performance and CD and hence, invited us on to his late-night rock show later that week. We were interviewed and four songs from Random Acts of Highness were played on-air.
Sadly however, that was one of the last events the band would have as a group for an extended period of time, for reality was right around the corner.  Z started a job at UPS ("It's just like Tetris, man"), Jon headed back home and started working 12 hour days, Derek also headed south to Florida Southern College for public relations, and Eric went to University of Connecticut to study pharmacy.
        However, this did not mean Delta IX was down for the count.  On Christmas break, the band shortly reconvened to pull off an 18 song, 2 hour +, headlining performance at Café ABBA.  The show consisted of our usual setlist plus 5 new songs that were pieced together in 4 days that we were together before the show.  If this is any indicator of how much progress the band can make in a short amount of time, the summer should be full of brand new music.
        Well, that’s it for now… We hope everyone looks forward to the summer as much as we do.  Our time apart has only strengthened Delta IX, for everyone has had time to grow individually as musicians; it should be interesting to hear what comes together as a result.
 

“About Delta IX, it all started back in 1993-95 when the seed was planted. The band has grown and changed over the years and so have the members, but it’s all been good. Good times, good parties, good laughs and cries, good tattoos, good rides through CT, good friends, and good shows. I’d like to make this seed grow into a massive plant with many large buds that can be enjoyed by all.”

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