The Avenues are coming to Troy

A new student band kickstarted in Troy over the summer, following the departure of Speak Easy. The Avenues is an alternative rock band made up of four Troy University students.  

Their debut album, “Afraid to be Human,” is set to be released in 2026. 

“It’s a reflection of the universality of struggle, grief, fear and longing for a reason to continue,” said Wyatt Graham, a band member who is a sophomore majoring in psychology from Anniston, Alabama. “We hope to connect with others through those broad things, help listeners feel more deeply and hopefully reach understanding on the hard edges of life.” 

The main four members of the band are all in different years. Graham is a guitarist, pianist and songwriter for the band. Matthew Farish is the bassist and co-songwriter and a criminal justice major from Prattville, Alabama. Alex Bennett is the drummer and a business management major from Elberton, Georgia. Lastly, Jason Lenentine is the lead guitarist and a risk management major from Huntsville, Alabama. 

“I’m  really looking forward to getting the ball rolling, playing some shows and just seeing what we can do as a group,” Lenentine said. 

This band has a similar sound to that of Pixies, Radiohead, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Neutral Milk Hotel.  

With their house shows coming soon, the band plans to open sets with a combination of covers and original music. The times and locations of these shows are still to be determined. 

“We want to see our impact, whether it's because people just like to jam to our music or they actually feel it and it helps them in some way,” Graham said.  

“We want the people to hear our expression and take any use from it.” 

Their music is considered mostly alt-rock mixed with melancholic and grunge vibes. They put their focus on unique sounds with meaningful lyrics. 

“I am a published author and poet, so I love the poetry of it all,” Graham said. 

Not only will the band support their classmates and friends, but they will also support the arts in their community. Their shows will give students the opportunity to socialize and a place to hang out outside of classes. The Troy community can bond over the meaning behind the music that they make and enjoy the sounds that come with it

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More information about upcoming shows and their debut album can be found on their Instagram page @theavenuesoffcial. To find covers and more, visit @theavenuesband on TikTok.