Dayton Jans plays lead guitar for 21st Avenue at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Jan. 18.
Like three springs under pressure, the band members jumped high into the air. Time suspended for a fraction of a second while the band hovered above the stage. Their shoes met the floor with a cymbal crash and immediately the lead guitarist and frontman began head banging, without missing a note.
“I knew I was going to be a rock star from a very young age – a rock star and a firefighter. Firefighter didn’t work out,” said Oztin Bowden, frontman for 21st Avenue.
The band showed off new music at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Jan. 18.
It released its debut album, Don’t Sleep, a year ago.
Now, it’s gearing up to announce a release date for the sophomore album, Form. The band has adopted a heavier sound in the past year and has undergone a change in lineup.
Bowden says the band’s life really started when Jesse Debona, their current drummer and Levi Trodd, their current bassist, joined the group. Though this is not their first time in a recording studio, it is the first time with 21st Avenue. Debona and Trodd have recorded with their other band, Frege’s Puzzle. Debona said the recording was a challenge, as he was recovering from an ankle injury when recording laying down his drum parts.
Oztin Bowden (right) and Levi Trodd (left) perform with their band 21st Avenue at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Jan. 18. 
Jesse Debona drums with his band 21st Avenue at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Jan. 18.
“It was a real struggle. It was really hard, but I learned a lot. When I brought those skills to the table this time and I had full function of all my limbs. It just made it so much better,” he said.
The band 21st Avenue plays mostly original songs, with a few covers mixed in. Though the band writes as a group, Bowden is the main lyricist. He said his writing has evolved since the first album.
“I wrote about the people I know and love more than I did myself this time around,” he said. For the most part, he said he likes to write from personal experience. The title track from their first album was written about Bowden’s insomnia and relationship with Catholicism when he was younger.
“I’m a restless man… I don’t sleep – it’s all because of my sins and that was kind of the idea of the song,” he said.
Debona said Bowden’s writing is one thing that sets them apart from other bands.
“We have these little things with each member that makes us stand out,” he said.
Dayton Jans, lead guitarist, works as a graphic designer and run the band’s social media. Trodd studied audio engineering in university and Bowden studied music.
On Jan. 24, the band will play both albums back-to-back at The Slice. They expect to release Form next month and plan to announce a release date this week. The band is driven by their love of playing. All members share a goal of playing music full-time.
“I’m living very poor, most of my money comes from the band, but I love it and I don’t care,” said Bowden.