From fraternity to bandmates: Kappa Sigmas form the student band Dog Watch

By Kalena Reynolds | Staff writer

Brought together through fraternity, six Kappa Sigma members found more than just fellowship in their fraternity – they discovered a lifelong musical passion. Her band Dog Watch has not only ignited a spark, but also created a musical journey that extends far beyond Baylor.

The group’s roots date back to the spring of 2023, when several members, inspired by a band hired to perform at a Kappa Sigma event, decided to form their own band. In the spring of 2024, after a few name and membership changes, Dog Watch became a serious venture for the group.

Senior and lead guitarist Ethan Cole from Roseville, California, had been in a band before starting college. After joining Kappa Sigma, he decided to find other members with whom he wanted to form a band.

“I knew I wanted to be part of a band, and when I saw the opportunities I had with the large number of members in our chapter, I thought there would be people nearby who played instruments,” said Cole.

At first the group played covers of alternative rock songs; Eventually they started writing their own songs.

Dallas senior and keyboardist Jackson Thornton said that after the band began to develop its identity as a group and songwriter, it began playing local shows around Waco to gain traction and experience.

“We played at Freight a couple times last semester and then eventually moved out of Waco,” Thornton said. “We came to Dallas last September and played a show there. There was a huge crowd and it was our first ticketed show. We were able to attract a decent crowd so it was pretty exciting.”

While the band’s core sound is rooted in rock, their music encompasses a range of styles. Some songs are influenced by punk rock, others have indie vibes, and others lean towards alternative rock.

The band’s songwriting process begins with one of the members sending a riff into the band’s group chat, which is then turned into a complete arrangement. The lyrics were written solely by Evan Todd, a sophomore from Columbia, SC, and the singer. He noted that the process was both cathartic and creative for him.

“I write down as much as I can on paper for five minutes, and it’s not lyrics or anything,” Todd said. “It’s just a stream of consciousness getting everything out of my head and onto paper. And usually until then I use the riffs they sent in and I use the music we have and save what comes to mind and see what sticks.”

One of the band’s songs is titled “Dough,” which Todd wrote as a critique of generational wealth and the privilege that comes with it.

On November 22nd, the band will release four songs on all major streaming platforms.

“We want to release about four of our songs,” Todd said. “We have about nine or 10 that we can whittle down and choose from. A lot of these songs are different genres that we just want to see how they fit together. We have a lot of harder punk stuff. We have a lot more modern alternative rock and a few things like little funk songs that we like to put in there. So we really enjoyed the writing process.”

While the band is made up of seniors, aside from Todd, the group is excited to continue creating and performing together after they graduate.

Dallas senior and bass guitarist Jack Swaner said the members plan to move to nearby cities in Texas to stay local and prioritize performances. Houston senior and rhythm guitarist Greydon Fenn said that when the time comes, he would even be willing to sacrifice his job for the band’s success.

“I think we would all like to get together at least a couple times a month and go on and play on the weekends,” Swaner said. “As for Evan, I’m not sure he’ll be able to do it in the next two years. I would say we can tour in the summer, and I think that’s the ultimate, or that’s the kind of year-end goal, to at least have a tour in May this summer.”