While Looza Palooza is accustomed to their performances accompanied by a live, cheering crowd, the alternative rock band performs for a digital audience and a camera in the compact corner.

Looza Palooza performs and writes their own songs within the alternative rock genre, as well as playing covers of popular songs. The band has held numerous live performances, including a couple of backyard performances, larger concerts in the auditorium of the school, at the Community Stage and Pavilion for the Sweet Corn festival, and even Adel’s Hay Day during October. They have even created their own merchandise in the form of posters and clothing items. While Looza Palooza appears to have massive success, its beginning was more humble.

“We had our first concert in Keaton’s backyard,” Owen Horgen said. “We had about eight songs that we liked, and we all picked a few.” The band formed in eighth grade because every member enjoyed playing music and played together in the show band that accompanied the middle school Compass Show Choir. After playing for the first time, the band did not sound the best, but eventually improved as their bond strengthened.

The band, since the beginning, has certainly faced challenges, especially considering its members’ involvement in extracurricular activities. The members participate in a range of activities, ranging from band and choir to cross country and wrestling. With all these activities, devoting time to Looza Palooza became a slight challenge.

“Getting people to show up to practices or planning with our schedules, because we’re all involved in a lot of things, so finding time where we can all practice is a lot,” Keaton Holland said. “Making sure people practice on their own, too, I think, is a bit of a problem.”

With other activities in addition to the band, balancing activities becomes hard to do, but Looza Palooza continues to find a way.

“We practice when we can, and if that’s once a week, once every two weeks, etc., a practice is still a practice,” Jace Zeigler said. Practices are important to the band, and finding time to meet together or hang out is an important part of the group’s music and friendship.

Looza Palooza has also been able to play for live audiences, unlike other bands that the Compact Corner has seen. With this, Looza Palooza is used to applause and cheering. The level of support it has received is influential to its members.

Originally, the band was surprised by the support they received and the overwhelming positive feedback, but accepted the support with open arms.

“I think [the support’s] awesome because a lot of our friends like the music, but also on social media we’ve gotten some feedback and it seems like a lot of people like our music and it sounds similar to a lot of the bands we like and listen to and we’re trying to sound like,” Holland said.

In addition to performing, creating original music also came with apprehension.

“I didn’t know people liked our stuff, especially our originals,” Zeigler said. “All of us were kind of scared [of] what people would think.”

Looza Palooza will continue to perform and make music. To catch future performances and listen to the band’s music, view their posts on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

MUSICIANS: 

• Owen Horgen: Guitar, accordion
• Jace Zeigler: Bass guitar, guitar
• Andrew Nelson: vocalist, keyboard
• Will Truitt: vocalist, guitar
• Keaton Holland: drums

SET LIST:

• Song for the Dead – Queens of the Stone Age
• 10 Minutes – Looza Palooza
• Untitled – Looza Palooza
• Black – Pearl Jam