A Step up

-Leslie Reynolds

Facing a crowd of hundreds of screaming fans and curious spectators at the famed Austin City Limits Music Festival, the quartet of teenage boys known as The Steps strut confidently on stage. Sporting skinny jeans and pointy boots, the teens’ image is reminiscent of that British Invasion-esque style of the Who and early Rolling Stones. The group consists of William Thompson, 19, Sam Thompson, 17, Steven Ross, 18, and Westlake’s own senior Alexander “Z” Lynch on the drums, nodding to the beat and displaying his talent with each electrifying drum solo.

Z has played drums for six years and has been a member of The Steps for two. Just in the past year, The Steps were signed by a big-name manager in the music business.

“Our manager is Kevin Womack,” Z said. “He’s with Loophole Entertainment. He manages Los Lonely Boys and Omar and the Howlers.”

Womack claims he knew the band had something special ever since he first saw them perform.

“[The Steps] have a special chemistry of freshness and power in their music,” Womack said. “They have a charisma that an audience gravitates towards.”

Although none of the band members are over 19, their fan base is hardly limited to their age cohorts. The Steps play gigs all over Austin, in prestigious venues including Emo’s and Antone’s.  But their biggest break came in September when they took the stage at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Here they were greeted by a large collection of Westlake students who came to show their support.

“They were rocking out all over the stage,” Steps fan junior Alix Knight said. “Their songs were really catchy and up-tempo.”

Z’s newly elevated rock star status definitely comes with certain perks.

“I got an artist’s pass and I got to hang out with some musicians backstage,” Z said. “I met a guy who plays with Joss Stone…I talked to him for a while. I saw Ben Kweller back there, too.”

But the benefits don’t stop there. The Steps have set their sights on the European market, where they already have plenty of support.

“We’re doing a single in London,” Z said. “It’s going to be released in October and then in November we’re going over there to promote it.”

Next year, Z plans to attend ACC, though he will continue playing music.

A life of rock and roll seems to suit Z well. As he puts it, “It’s just second nature.”