Caroline Reese and the Drifting Fifth

While most students were spending fall break catching up on much-needed sleep or indulging in TV binge-watching sessions, Caroline Reese '14, Mark Watter '14 and Alice Terret '16 put them all to shame and took a new country-folk crossover show on the road, traveling as a three-man musical group. The newly formed group kicked off its tour with a live radio show on Oct. 20 and played three venues and an additional radio show, ending in Reese's hometown Reading, Pa. The band, officially known as Caroline Reese and the Drifting Fifth, began as a solo act with Reese writing and performing her own songs. The collection that she developed, which includes two CDs (Indian River, which was released in 2010, and Slow Code from this year) serves as the core of the band’s performance, with Watter and Terret writing in their own parts. To accompany her original works, they perform covers along with the debut of an original piece by Watter, which they played live for the first time on their tour.

Spending time with the group in person gives an insight into how they’re able to work so well together after a relatively short amount of time. Their personalities, while distinctly different, complement each other. Reese assumes leadership in the most natural of ways, binding together the energetic Watter with the quieter Terret to form a trio that you’d never guess formed onlysix months ago. Their time on tour contributed to a familiarity that can be visibly seen in the way they interact with one another as they turn to each other for reassurance and complete each other’s sentences. While each member stands out as an individual, the trio comes together seamlessly.

"If we could do this [tour], we could do anything," Reese said.

The band's newness is only really apparent in their own surprise at the reception of their group while on tour. Watter explained the surreality of encountering “real fans” at a gig in Building 24 was and recounted being taken aback by individuals who had traveled to come see them. Watter's reaction to a fan's exclamation that she had been following their music prior to the tour is representative of how humble the band members are.

"That's something I say to other people. I never expect someone to say that to me," Watter said, referring to the fan's compliment.

Following the tour, they talk about being a more knowledgeable group with experience under their belt and playfully jest about writing up a rider. However, Reese is careful to keep herself and the group in check, constantly referring to their experience as the result of “an accumulation of little chances” and “opportunities we don’t deserve." The group loves to joke about how “uncool” they are and how enthusiastic they were about everything on tour, like the amount of chandeliers at a venue.

“We always act like we’re not going to be excited,” Terret said, “but every single time we get so excited!"

The group was not shy about letting fans in on that excitement while on tour.

“At our first encore at a gig, I actually announced to the audience ‘That’s never happened before,'" Reese said.

But don't let their modesty fool you; the band has talent and has played at venues that have also showcased notable groups like the White Stripes. Over break, the band was also featured on Gene Shay's famous Philadelphia Folk Show on WXPN. Shay is known as "the grandfather of Philadelphia Folk Music" and has interviewed numerous music greats, including Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne.

What does the future hold for this group? The trio hopes to capitalize on the opportunities they’ve had so far and continue to build momentum. They’ve already booked gigs throughout the summer as well as upcoming ones in Princeton, including a set at Tower Club. Reese personally hopes to move to Nashville and chase her dreams in the world's country music capital. With high hopes for the future, Caroline Reese and the Drifting Fifth are appreciative of the time they have together.

Reese wondered out loud, “How did I function before this? How did I wake up everyday and not do this?”