Feature Story: No One Goes Home
Craig Broombaugh is probably crazy, or so he thinks. The 23-year-old front man of Southern California's fastest growing pop-punk band, No One Goes Home, uses his unique personality and style to get him noticed in the large pool of hopeful Los Angeles musicians.
"Just a warning, my appearance is not at its best-est!" Broombaugh text messaged me prior to the interview. He showed up to our Starbucks meeting spot wearing a plaid fedora hat and a black and white wardrobe to compliment his bi-colored hair.
Although his exterior may be unconventional, Broombaugh is not your typical rock star. His personality is that of the boy-next-door, complete with attractive charm and boyish antics. He's the type of guy that would greet a strange reporter with a hug and hold an honest conversation for an hour after the interview. His voice speaks with enthusiasm and intelligence beyond its years.
While growing up in the Detroit area, Broombaugh started developing himself musically as a teenager. He played with several different bands and projects before ultimately forming No One Goes Home.
"I've been doing band stuff since I was around 14. You know, as you've got the teenage dream, you can't really kick it," Broombaugh said.
No One Goes Home was formed when Broombaugh joined with bassist Nick Stout, 21, and drummer John Zink, 20 in 2004. However, getting noticed among the music scene in Detroit wasn't so easy.
"The only bands you would play with are metal bands or cover bands at bars. And we are neither of those, so it's really hard to develop a following that's not your family," Broombaugh said. "There are no real opportunities to play big shows."
After gaining little momentum in Detroit, No One Goes Home decided that moving to California would present them with better opportunities.
"Just based on the population alone, there's just so much more business around L.A. It's an industry city, it's a music city, it's an entertainment city." Broombaugh said, "Just given any night of the week, I can, within an hour, go find a show to promote myself at."
The 8-month-old band packed-up and, using drummer, Zink's, graduation money, bought a van and moved across the country.
At first, it was a rough start in L.A. It took the band around three months to get financially stable before they could go out and start promoting themselves.
"It was really difficult," said Broombaugh. "But, once you have a passion and determination to do it, it's just not even difficult anymore, you just go out and talk about yourself. And, eventually, if you show up a bunch of times, people will notice."
Their strong drive to succeed and their willpower has made them into the successful band that they are today.
"It's all us, it's always been us since the beginning. I don't see how people expect to do shows out here or be successful without going out and making a name for yourself," Broombaugh said. "A year ago, if we played tonight, we probably would've done 50-70 kids. Now, we would probably do 200."
In addition to word of mouth, No One Goes Home also has a successful group of fans online. With 20,000 friends and averaging 800 plays a day on Myspace, there are multiple band fan sites as well.
"They are really nice guys who enjoy hanging out with their fans," said Kayla Drake, 19, the moderator for the "No One Goes Home Fan Love" Myspace page. "Plus they have a unique sound and Craig has a distinct voice. Their style is nothing like I have heard before."
With loyal support from fans and a large following, No One Goes Home proves that their unique ways have gained them success in their self-made fame.
"It's so strange, being really involved in the music scene, I can't think of another band on a local level whose following tops ours at all," Broombaugh said.
Their clever lyrics and pop-punk piano sounds have caught the attention of Cal State Fullerton's Associated Student's Thursday Concert Coordinators, allowing them to play from Noon to 1 PM in the Titan Student Union Pub on Dec. 6.
"They are a do-it-yourself band…They don't expect everything handed to them. Everything they have earned is through hard work and determination," said Francis Szyskowski, 28, one of the Thursday Concerts coordinators. "I have tons of respect for any band that does that."
In the future, No One Goes Home will release a six song EP and continue playing shows and touring to, hopefully, catch the eyes of a record label.
Whatever will happen, Craig Broombaugh still keeps his crazy teenage dreams in perspective.
"As far as I'm concerned, my goals as aspirations are the sky, so what's next is everything else I guess," Broombaugh said.
Article and Interviews by: Lindsay Kwek
Cal State University -Fullerton
Lindsay Kwek's Myspace