The Boog is a local band that began in 2019, according to band bass player and Milton High School English Teacher Mr. Wesley Cromley. He added the band started because he felt it needed to happen.
“More bands are better than less bands,” Mr. Cromley said.
According to Mr. Cromley, each member of the band has a different musical taste, which has influenced a variety of rhythms throughout each song they have produced.
“Their music stands out to me. Their use of fade outs that fake out the end of the song has definitely been something that stood out to me,” said Senior Juno Weaver, who has attended five of their shows.
The band has already performed 40-50 shows. They set a goal each year to do a monthly show and ultimately be ready to release one album by the beginning of every January, all while maintaining an active presence on social media, added Mr. Cromley.
In order to keep music at the core focus of the band, The Boog runs off “organized logistics,” according to Mr. Cromley. This means that they have one weekly band session that lasts three hours as well as their show schedule and album release, he explained.
During the practices, the band plays with different songs and rhythms. Once they find what fits, it goes straight to record, said Mr. Cromley.
Mr. Cromley said he usually writes the lyrics after the band comes up with the instrumentals. Other times, the band’s guitarist Mr. Dan Crossgrove writes lyrics, he added.
According to Mr. Cromley, the band runs off a variety of musical influences such, as rock and reggae. Mr. Cromley said that without a system or logistics, a band just cannot work and will only destroy any sense of time management.
“Amateurs talk strategy; professionals talk logistics,” Mr. Cromley added, quoting General Omar Bradley, who commanded the largest American military force during the time of WWII.
Mr. Cromley said his advice to those pursuing a career in the music industry is to learn about your own interest in rhythm or musical influences and put it into practice, but do keep music at the core with a set schedule of logistics and to never take criticism as advice.
Mr Cromley said that the band is currently considering traveling to a studio in Europe during the summer of 2026 to workshop their next set of music pieces.
Although Juno said they were unaware of how much it has impacted the community as a whole, it has impacted them personally to further pursue a path in music and even undergo the beginning stages of starting their own band.
Mr Cromley added that he sees many talents in some of the students here at Milton and believes there should be room to create student bands in the community. “It’s always better to be creating something than to criticize anything,”said Mr. Cromley.
