Finding a New Path

Shea Chancey, staff writer

Famous singers such as Waylon Jennings, Martina McBride, Mac Davis, and Buddy Holly found their way to fame, but had to struggle to get there.

Now, in a small West Texas town called Littlefield, a new band is hoping to seek a glimpse of fame. But for now, they will have fun while working to get to the top. All they want to do is give their fans a show that keeps them on their feet and wanting more.

The group “New Path,” has been together for only four months, but the compatibility they have with while playing music, makes them sound like they have been together for years. On stage, they are band mates. Off stage, they are best friends.

They come from different backgrounds, but share the same dreams as far as the band goes, to earn respect, get recognized by playing with a national touring act, and to really live up to their expectations and those of their families.

“New Path” features three hard-working and talented young men. Trevor Jennings is the lead singer and awesome guitar player. Tory Smith can be found in the back keeping the amazing beat on the drums, while Cory Yesel is the one fretting away on his bass guitar and singing back up vocals. All three together create a stellar sound of music mixed with a variety of styles and different genres.

The guys came up with their band name in hope of setting a “new path” for music in general. By doing so, they use cover songs from Fall Out Boy, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blink 182, Papa Roach, “East Bound and Down,” the theme song from “Smokey and the Bandit,” and much more. But they add in their own style to spice the music up. Their choice of music creates a new side of rock music that people can relate to and enjoy listening to. Influences such as Mudvayne, Waylon Jennings, Metallica, Blink 182, Kiss, and Guns-N-Roses have given each band member a new, inspiring way of playing music and by combining different genres that give the music more of an interesting perspective of sound.

This trio has been busy since the first time they got together in May 2005. They have played many shows, including a graduation gig, a “Back-to-School” bash in Littlefield, a Battle of the Bands in Sundown, and performed at the after-party at Lake after see Shooter Jennings in concert and chilling on his bus with him. They also performed at Aces and Eights with Triple Deuce, and their most recent gig was in Littlefield to help raise money for the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. New Path raised $250 that was donated to the Red Cross for those victims.  Other bands that donated their time to help with the fundraiser were: Rattlesnake, a band out of Sudan; Triple Deuce, another Littlefield band; and Mojave Soul from Lubbock. One of the intriguing things for New Path, not to mention a treat, is that the stage they played on in Littlefield was built for Waylon Jennings to play on before he passed away, thanks to the money raised by the Littlefield Arch and Heritage Center.

Each show has something new contributed to it in order to keep the show fresh, interesting, and fun for the crowd.

“We prefer gigs where people watching are not afraid to have fun,” Trevor Jennings said. “When people just stand or sit, it kind of throws our motivation off, and it doesn’t look like we’re having a lot of fun.”

These multi-talented guys can put on a very entertaining show. They have one song that they wrote that when they play it on stage, they start by playing their own instruments. But toward the end Yesel and Jennings bust into an intriguing drum trio with Smith. Then, they lay the drumsticks down and pick up where they left off on the song with their bass and guitar. They live up to their band motto, “you cannot make chicken salad out of chicken feet,” which is also a song they wrote.  They gain the attention of their fans and keep them wanting to see more.

When not practicing or playing a gig, these guys are busy attending classes at South Plains College and working.

Yesel, 19, is continuing his education in welding technology for his second year, while working as a welder at P and J’s Manufacturing in Levelland after school.  He graduated in 2004 from Littlefield High School. Yesel has little spare time, but his hobbies are playing music, listening to music, and hanging out with his friends. Yesel’s favorite song to play is, “Forgive me,” which New Path wrote. He has been playing the bass guitar for six and a half years, beginning in the fifth grade in church. Yesel said he started playing music because, “ I loved the fact of making music.”

Jennings, who graduated from Littlefield in 2005, is a freshman at SPC majoring in sound technology. When not in school, he works as a cook in Littlefield at Pizza Classic. Jennings carries a special love for music and shares a natural talent with his uncle Waylon Jennings, whose hometown is Littlefield. His hobby is music, and his favorite song is “Daddy’s Farm,” by Shooter Jennings, the son of Waylon Jennings and his cousin.

Jennings started playing guitar at 16 because, “ I found it helps me take my mind off of things. It’s like an anti-depressant, anger management, and a drug all in one.”

Smith also graduated from Littlefield in 2005 and is a freshman at SPC majoring in general studies. He works at the local General Store in Littlefield. His hobby is playing the drums, and he doesn’t have much spare time.

He started playing the drums when he was 14. Smith chose the drums, “because I have always admired drum playing and I wanted to learn.” His favorite song is “Dammit,” by Blink-182, a cover song New Path enjoys performing.

The next show to catch will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Buffalo Springs Lake at the Marina on Oct. 28. For more information contact, Jennings at 241-2176, Yesel at 241-4818, or Smith at 535-6924, or check out their website at new_path_tct@yahoo.com