On a spring evening in 2006 outside Landon Hall, Matthew Milia and Zachary Nichols sat on a bench playing the musical saw and singing together for one of the very first times. The two soon were joined by fellow student Anna Burch, who was walking by, knew the song the pair was playing and jumped in, spurring an impromptu gig that would become the basis of the folk group Frontier Ruckus’ rustic sound.
Little did they know, this spontaneous gathering would be the beginning of a musical career encompassing three albums, an international tour and a sea of devoted fans.
Six years later — Frontier Ruckus, which now is comprised of singer-songwriter and guitarist Milia, saw and horn player Nichols, percussionist Ryan Etzcorn and vocalist and banjo player David Jones — is returning to its alma mater.
Band members — all of whom are MSU alumni with the exception of Jones — will play a free concert sponsored by MSU LiveOn at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Gilchrist Hall Pub and are enthusiastic about returning to the place where they got their start while living in West Circle Neighborhood.
“The best shows for us are always in East Lansing because that’s where the band developed and the first place people started caring about our shows with unbridled enthusiasm,” Milia said. “It has a very special, personal significance to us.”
Frontier Ruckus’ first major show was MSU’s 2006 Battle of the Bands at the International Center, which it won. Milia said some of the band’s first recordings and rehearsals were held in the recreation rooms of Campbell, Landon and Gilchrist halls, so the show Thursday is expected to be even more special.
“We thought it was a great idea to bring (Frontier Ruckus) back so they could talk about their experience living here,” said Campus Services Brand Manager Sojo Alex, who helped organize the event. “We’re trying to show students that living here is where you find your best friends, your Spartan spirit … It’s where you make your memories for life.”
For Milia, MSU has provided him with more than just memories — it has given him inspiration for the majority of his music. Milia said there are at least a dozen references to MSU in his songs.
“Most of my songs I wrote while being a student at Michigan State and living in Landon or Wonders (Hall),” he said. “One of the main things I write about is places that contain memories for myself.”
Political theory and constitutional democracy senior Katie Howe, who plans to attend the show Thursday, said she has been a big fan of Frontier Ruckus ever since they played a set on the front porch of Vesta Cooperative House, where she lives.
“Their music is really beautiful,” Howe said. “I like that they have an old, folky, bluegrass sound, and I think they bring that to a younger crowd in a really good way.”
Milia said Frontier Ruckus, which currently is planning the release of its third full-length record, “Eternity of Dimming,” is glad to return home to share music with the people and places that know it best.
“To make music for a living and share it with people that care about it … I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” he said.
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