Story by SETH HAMMES Photos by RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
Following their performance at the Horseshoe this past weekend, local band The Side Projects is gearing up for a return performance in late March.
The Side Project is made up of Gauge Horlick on lead guitar, William Clark, on drums, Philip Veatch, on backing guitar and, Jordan Breinig on bass, and Connor Rodger on lead vocals. Breinig is a student at Fort Hays State while Rodger is a student at Fort Hays Tech North Central.
The Side Projects opening their concert inside the Horseshoe Bar & Grill with “Drive.” 
Connor Rodger performing lead vocals. 
Jordan Breinig on bass, Gauge Horlick on lead guitar, and Rodger on vocals. 
The Side Projects performing covers of various classic rock hits. 
The crowd watching the band. 
Philip Veatch on backing guitar. 
Rodger engaging with the crowd. 
Breining performing backing vocals while playing bass. 
Veatch playing keyboards. 
William Clark takes over on guitar while performing “She Hates Me” with his father, Wallace. 
Performing a cover of “Creep” by Stone Temple Pilots. 
William Clark on drums. 
The Side Projects after finishing their show.
The band played a series of covers spanning different genres; however, each song was mixed with The Side Projects’ signature spin of funk and punk.
“Playing in Hays is special to me because this place has a lot of very talented people, musically,” Veatch said. “So it feels rewarding to be up there with some folk close to me that inspired me.”
Other members of the band shared the same sentiment, saying they play for the community, not for themselves.
“The name ‘The Side Projects’ is because it originally was something we wanted to do on the side, but since people liked what we play, we play music not just for ourselves, but for the audience,” Clark said.
With this most recent show at the Horseshoe, they achieved a milestone by performing their first gig longer than an hour, successfully reaching their goal of a two-hour performance. Aside from this feat, their show was highlighted by many things, including William Clark’s vocal debut on “Tennessee Whiskey,” which he performed with a smooth and confident tone, followed by cheers and applause from the crowd.
The Side Projects displayed crowd engagement, with their ability to interact with audiences and boost energy, most notably done by Connor Rodgers with his intense and humorous crowd work.
“I felt amazing after singing ‘Tennessee Whiskey.’ It was easier to carry myself with confidence rather than to be nervous and worry about messing up; the interaction with the crowd helped us push through the two hours of the gig and kept us motivated,” Clark said.
The positive reception from this performance has opened the door for potential future slots, which the band is clearly excited about.
“We should have another gig at the Horseshoe coming up late March,” Horlick said.,
He said that while the exact date is still being finalized, the March timeframe is confirmed for their return to the Hays venue.
While the band is exploring other potential returns, such as Hill City and Nicodemus, their focus remains on delivering another memorable performance at The Horseshoe in Hays this March.
More information about The Side Projects, including future dates, can be found on the band’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
https://www.facebook.com/share/14ReiRNRL5P
https://www.instagram.com/the_sideprojects?igsh=MmozcGRzcTJ6aXg2