Anagen to rock Coastal Bend College stage

Concert part of free Spring Festival

Ranked in the top 25 unsigned bands in the United States and Canada, Anagen has come out of hibernation to once again rock the foundation of the Texas music scene. They will perform at Coastal Bend College in Beeville on April 12 at 6 p.m. in the James Dougherty Student Center (SUB). The concert is part of Spring Festival 2012, a community event.

Anagen spent much of 2008 and 2009 playing sold out shows in Texas, being courted by major record labels, and sharing the stage with some of rock’s biggest names. Then they moved the act to Nashville where the music gradually became different altogether.Since shifting their focus towards their new project, Love at War, founding members Lance Kotara and Tyler McCollum have been on a steady upward musical journey that’s taken them across the world from London and Berlin to Los Angeles and Beeville.

That’s right. Beeville. The Austin-based band features two Beeville natives – Lance Kotara and Justin Perez. Kotara, lead guitar/vocalist, and Perez, bass guitarist, are 2001 A.C. Jones High School graduates. They performed together in the local band, “The Others” before relocating to the Austin area and ultimately becoming 50 percent of Anagen. They’ve periodically returned to Beeville and the college to perform.

Kotara, a 2005 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, is a songwriter. One of his songs was picked up by country recording artist Laura Bell Bundy and will debut on her album available this April. In addition to Anagen, Kotara is a member of the band Love at War.

Anagen’s Perez and Steve Hudson have kept busy with their latest projects, as well.  Hudson is currently drumming for more than one band including Austin sensation, Black Bone Child. Perez, a student minister in Beeville, continues to hone his bass skills.

McCollum summed up the band’s history, saying, “Back in the day, it was all about what we looked like on stage, how many records we sold, and if we put on a good show. Now, we’re just having so much fun that we sound better, the fans like the show even more, and we’re just genuinely grateful for being up there in front of an audience. I think it really shows.”

2012 finds these four friends having the time of their lives on stage, in the rehearsal room and beyond. They’re back and they’re not going anywhere any time soon.

Spring Festival 2012, a family-friendly event will include free food and refreshments, and activities for children. Returning and potential CBC students will have opportunities to gain in-depth information on applying for admissions and financial aid; get familiar with what the college offers; and meet CBC faculty, advisors and counselors. Campus tours will be available.

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