Former Daytonian returns to town

Dayton area native Danny Surico is frontman for Chicagobased indie pop band Hiber, performing at Jimmie’s Ladder 11 in Dayton on Friday, May 12. However, the 2004 graduate of Oakwood High School spent most of his 20s playing in the Future Laureates, which formed at Loyola University in 2006. Two years ago, Surico and his bandmates were at the age when many rock musicians have to reassess how they feel about playing in a band. Is it something they’ll continue into adulthood or was it a youthful folly that has run its course as your 20s give way to their 30s? While the consensus was to end the Future Laureates, Surico, 31, wasn’t ready to give up music. He recently shared his thoughts on the demise of his old band and the rise of Hiber.

END OF AN ERA

“We all put a tremendous amount of time and energy and blood, sweat and tears into the Future Laureates. We worked hard so everybody earned the right to decide it’s time to do something else with their time. I don’t fault those guys for that. We all put a lot more time into that project than I could have ever hoped or expected from any group of people.”

STOKING THE FIRE

“I love music, and I still want to give this an honest shot and pursue this dream and this career path. I’m not only very passionate about songwriting and performing, but I also love the business side like putting together tours, touring and networking. I love meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends on the road. There’s still a fire for me to do it and Hiber is a creative outlet where I can pursue it.”

THE SLOW BUILD

“In seven years, I had learned the hard way of how to build up a band. This was a challenge to myself to use the wisdom, knowledge and relationships I’d worked hard to develop. Now, what can happen with version 2.0? We’re slowly moving forward with Hiber, doing it in incremental stages.”