Former KSC student leaves school to fulfill his dreams
At fourteen years old, Aaron Zaroulis, a teenager who loved to tap out rhythms on the drums, had no idea he was about to see five years into his future.
Zaroulis was at a concert for the indie-rock band when in the middle of the show the band’s drummer, Denis Bane, was arrested.
The Brew lead guitarist, Dave Drouin said that their drummer needed to relieve himself but the line had around 100 kids waiting for the bathroom.
Contributed Photo: Former Keene State student, Aaron Zaroulis, leaves school his sophomore year to become the new drummer for the Indie-rock band, ‘The Brew.’
Knowing they had an excited crowd waiting for them to continue the show, Bane decided to relieve himself outside.
“So he went out the backstage door and relieved himself behind a big dumpster that was there. An officer came up to him and said, ‘you’re arrested,’” Drouin said.
“So we’re inside and get the word [that] our drummer just got arrested.”
As a member of the crowd, Zaroulis was about to experience a flash to his future with The Brew.
The band shouted into the crowd asking if anyone could play drums, Zaroulis said.
All of his friends started pointing at him, screaming, saying he could play.
Little did Zaroulis know it would shape his years to come.
Zaroulis was called up as the drummer’s replacement.
“I got up on stage and actually finished the show with them as a thirteen or fourteen- year-old,” Zaroulis said.
Drouin said Zaroulis performed well because he was a fan of the band and knew most of their music.
“Aaron knew most of our material because he had been a fan to some degree. So he came up on stage and did great!” Drouin said.
The Brew and Zaroulis parted ways only to come together a few years later.
Contributed Photos: The Brew has just recently returned from recording an album in Nashville, TN with Grammy Award nominee Andreah Pokic. Zaroulis left his sophomore year at Keene State College just a bit early to audition for, and quickly become, the drummer for the band.
“I randomly got a phone call, I was actually on my way to Hoot ‘n’ Scoot when I got a call. They [Drouin] said ‘Yo, you the kid who used to play with us?’” Zaroulis said.
Zaroulis replied yes and discovered the band was yet again without a drummer.
Drouin said they would love if he auditioned.
“So I left school the next morning-twenty minutes after the audition I got the job,” Zaroulis said.
Drouin said he knew instantly that he wanted Zaroulis in his band.
“When Aaron played with me again I knew he was the drummer for me. I never want anyone else to play for me again,“ Drouin said.
The next day Zaroulis went to the Keene State Admissions office and—for lack of a better term—dropped out of school.
Dr. James Chesebrough, a professor in the KSC music department, had Zaroulis as a percussionist in concert band.
Hearing Zaroulis as part of an ensemble, Chesebrough said the drummer “worked very hard to make the ensemble sound good.”
Chesebrough also said that it seemed Zaroulis left school very unexpectedly.
“One day he came up to me and asked if he could miss some of concert band to do an audition for a band,” he said.
“As with all people, we compromised and he was able to go.”
“It seemed like the next day he said, ‘I got the gig, I’m leaving school.’ It [was] such a sudden thing.”
Zaroulis agree agreed.
“I packed up that day and drove home. Four days later I went on tour for two months.”
The Brew travels all over the United States.
“We went all over the US, south to Texas, west to New Mexico. I have been to 38 states in the last two years,” Zaroulis said, “I have just been on and off traveling.”
Zaroulis said that’s when he knew he made the right choice to leave school and that he is fortunate to be so successful at such a young age.
“I’m super lucky,” he said, “I would have regretted not leaving school.”
The Brew just returned form recording a new album in Nashville with Grammy nominee Andreah Pokic. Drouin said The Brew owes a lot of their recent success to Zaroulis.
“The new album is ridiculous and it’s a largely a part to Aaron. He is just incredible and wicked fun to work with,” Drouin said.
He also said Aaron’s young spirit revitalized the band.
“He is really energetic. He pushed us in all kinds of new directions. That youthful rejuvenation of the band was priceless.”
Drouin said in his view, Zaroulis is the most talented drummer in the area.
“In my opinion he is the greatest drummer on the East Coast and he is twenty-one years old. God knows what a monster he is turning into.”
Drouin’s appreciation for Zaroulis as a drummer seemed to be clear.
“I just love that kid. He is one of the greatest people I have met and I know he is the greatest drummer I have met,” Drouin said.
“I hope to be playing with him for years to come.”
Zaroulis has been playing the drums since the fourth grade but said that he “didn’t start taking the drums seriously” until around freshman year of high school.
Turns out, the years of practice certainly were not a waste of time.
Anna Glassman can be contacted at aglassman@keene-equinox.com