When a band names itself after an infamous Tatooine spaceport, it's fairly easy to predict that its members might be avid Star Wars fans.
The Texas-based indie band took the name Eisley (dropping the "Mos" to avoid any awkward legal issues) in reference to their music's celestial sound, and of course to pay homage to a space fantasy saga that seemed to be an ever-present fixture during their childhood.
"We were never a big Halloween costume-type family, but we've had lightsabers around the house ever since I can remember," Sherri DuPree, Eisley singer and guitarist, says.
Along with her two sisters -- singer/guitarist Chauntelle and singer/keyboardist Stacy -- her brother and drummer Weston and their best friend bassist Jon Wilson, it's clear that the band has more than one Star Wars fan thanks to her father, Boyd.
"My first Star Wars memory is of me and my older sister Chauntelle sitting down in front of the TV with my dad with the original trilogy on VHS and him being so psyched for us to watch them because he loved the films," DuPree recalls. "I just grew up watching them. I'm a big sci-fi nut now and I think that those played a huge part in that factor. They were the first sci-fi movies I saw as a kid and they are still some of the very best. I still get excited when they're on. My fondest memory is probably when they re-released the original trilogy in the theater and seeing them on the big screen. It was very sentimental!"
Eisley began playing in the family's coffeeshop and various other local gigs in 1998, when DuPree's sister Stacy was just eight years old. With dreamy vocals and atmospheric melodies, the band often finds itself compared to such bands as The Cranberries, The Throwing Muses and Portishead. For five years, they honed their musical style and toured throughout Texas, gaining an impressive fan base in the process. In 2003, Eisley released their debut EP Laughing City, signed with Warner Bros. and secured a coveted position touring with Coldplay. Their Marvelous Things EP followed soon after that same year. Currently, the band is on tour promoting their first full-length 2005 release, Room Noises.
Taking a brief break during their tour with rockers New Found Glory, both bands went to see Revenge of the Sith in the theaters on opening night.
"My whole band, New Found Glory and my family saw it opening night in Houston," DuPree says. "We were on tour with New Found at the time so we all went to see it together. And since we just happened to be going through near where my family lived when it came out and got to see it with all ten of them as well. I sat next to my boyfriend (Chad) from New Found, and we ate hot dogs and red licorice. It was very memorable."
As she sat in the theater surrounded by friends, family, and other fans, DuPree's eyes were glued to the big screen when Anakin Skywalker's pain and suffering were portrayed all too vividly at the end of the Mustafar duel.
"The scene where Anakin's legs are cut off and then get destroyed by the lava, grossed me out so bad," DuPree confesses. "But it was awesome! And when they made the suit for him and it showed him for the first time as Darth Vader... I got chills!"
During the film, DuPree's excitement for the action eventually gave way to pity for the misguided Skywalker.
"It was hard growing to like Anakin's character knowing that he would eventually be Darth Vader but also hard to not like him because we all kind of like Darth Vader really," DuPree explains. "I still feel sorry for him though. You can't help it after what happened to his mom and all that. That guy had a tough life. I see pretty much in black and white, though, so to me he had his choice and he chose -- to his demise, but he chose it."
Now that the movie is available on DVD, DuPree says she can't wait to fast-forward to Anakin's physical transformation to Darth Vader. But more importantly, now she can watch the saga in one long movie marathon.
"I would like to watch them all in order from I to VI," DuPree says. "Isn't it what we've all been waiting to do?"
As she anticipates watching the complete saga from beginning to end, there's a good chance that DuPree will be using the remote control to find scenes featuring her favorite characters at their best.
"I think Yoda will always be my favorite character," DuPree says. "He's the most unique little dude. Though I think I'd identify the most with Chewie. He's always trying to help and do the right thing, but then he just keeps getting yelled at. And Han Solo was my first love."
Though when pressed to decide which character out of the saga would fit seamlessly into the Eisley lineup, DuPree prefers playing with the shorter unsung heroes of Endor.
"If I could trade having someone like Han Solo for maybe three or four Ewoks, I might do that because that way I could have them play extra things like strings or percussion on certain songs and have it sound really full," DuPree smiles.
Even though the odds of Ewoks touring with Eisley are slim, DuPree is quick to mention that the Star Wars saga does more than just serve as a source for the band's name, it also indirectly influences the band's songs.
"Star Wars influenced my love of sci-fi which comes out a lot in my songs," DuPree explains. "I mean, we're going to have a song about an alien invasion on our next album!"
To listen to more music from Eisley, visit their official site here.
Stay tuned to starwars.com for more Star Wars appreciation interviews from some of your favorite bands and celebrities.
