Like other great bands, Outside the Wall embodies two key elements:
1) the members are accomplished musicians, and
2) they share a unified passion and vision.
Corey Hildebrand (bass/lead vocals), Lou Fontaine (drums/vocals), Kevin Barrett (keyboards/vocals), Blair Finley (guitars/vocals), Ron Clemens (guitars/vocals) and Carrie Ruep (sax/percussion/vocals) collectively bring over 100 years of professional performance experience to Outside the Wall. Such longevity in the business can be attributed to the members' individual musical proficiency, and has indeed served to augment their talents.
It was a unified passion and vision that brought these members together to begin with. What started among a few friends as a shared appreciation for the brilliant music of Pink Floyd soon became the inspiration to create Outside the Wall. Over a period of several months, the band rose to the challenge, driven by the pure delight of playing music of personal preference: songs with depth, emotion and finesse.
In a music scene dominated by dance music DJs and bands regurgitating top 40 hits, Outside the Wall initially wondered if they would arouse the public's curiosity or if they would get many chances to perform their show live. However, this did not deter them from rehearsing - an activity that in and of itself they found fun and satisfying.
Given the opportunity by a local club, the band established that the public has a more sophisticated musical palate than promoters might imagine, as the audience was quick to recognize and appreciate the passionate musicianship. On a weeknight, Outside the Wall's debut performance filled the club to capacity right up until closing time, with a line up that extended half a block into the bitter cold night. Those who managed to get into the club were not disappointed. The band was pleasantly surprised by the audience's attentiveness and appreciation during the show, plus the positive comments and feedback thereafter. As if their initial enthusiasm wasn't enough, Outside the Wall considers this public acceptance as a bonus incentive to continue working hard at refining and improving their show.
