English professors' album includes rendition of 'Alma Mater'
A heavy metal version of Central Michigan University's “Alma Mater” is now available through an album created by three English professors.
“Burnin’ the Eagle” was recorded by Daryl and the Beans, which features Jeffrey Bean on vocals, guitar and bass, Robert Fanning on vocals, guitar and percussion, and Darrin Doyle on vocals, guitar and slide percussion.
Originally created to play at a faculty talent show in 2012 that never happened, the band continued practicing and has now been together for five years.
“We sound like a rock band that could only manage to find acoustic instruments and are playing them as if they are electric,” Doyle said. “We're also unique in that we don't take ourselves too seriously. We don't mind laughing at ourselves because after all, we've got day jobs as professors.”
The professors’ album includes rock, folk and indie-inspired music. The band also specializes in odd arrangements of familiar songs and obscure covers.
Some of the most notable of these covers are a heavy metal version of CMU’s “Alma Mater”, a bluegrass version of the Hip-Hop group Run DMC’s song “Hard Times” and a folk inspired, three-part harmony rendition of Van Halen’s “Jump” and Slade’s “Come On Feel The Noize”.
“We have a pretty wide-ranging taste in music, and we're all very open to playing different types of songs,” Doyle said. “It's really fun to see what ideas come out of our collaboration. We're always adding various elements to keep things fresh.”
Collaborating on the album spanned three months, from June to August 2016. All the mixes were then completed by March, thus allowing the album to go on sale.
Daryl and the Beans will donate all album sale proceeds to the Carroll Arnett Scholarship, an award that benefits student writers at CMU.
“Burnin’ the Eagle” can downloaded for $8 through the Central English/Creative Writing Facebook page or on compact disc for $10. The disc can be purchased by contacting Doyle through the English Department.
You can see Daryl and the Beans live when they perform their songs as an opening act for Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers during the Max and Emily Summer Concert Series in August.
