NEPA Scene’s Got Talent spotlight: Eye on Attraction
Every week of NEPA Scene’s Got Talent, our free open mic and talent competition at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant, we feature a quick Q&A with the latest audience vote winner, which was vocalist Amber Sauls, guitarist Mike Trischetta, bassist Joe “Quincy” Terry, and drummer Andrew Merkle, better known as Scranton rock band Eye on Attraction, on June 2.
The weekly winner receives $50 in cash and the headlining slot for the following Tuesday, and all other performers are encouraged to compete again as often as they’d like or simply show off their talents for fun.
After 12 weeks, the 12 winners will face off against each other in front of a panel of local celebrities who will determine the winner of the grand prize – a vacation package that includes $500 cash, three days and two nights in Cleveland, Ohio to tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Great Lakes Brewing Company, tickets to a Cleveland Indians baseball game, and a free recording session at TwentyFiveEight Studios in Scranton when they return home.
We asked the young band (all are 24 except Sauls, who is 25) about winning Week 11 by stripping their high-energy music down for a rare acoustic set that they decided to perform just hours before going on stage.
NEPA SCENE: What brought you here to this event?
EYE ON ATTRACTION: We’re always looking for more opportunities to play out in between our show schedules. So when this came up, how could we say no?
NS: How long have you been practicing your music?
EoA: Music has been a primary practice for all of us for most of our lives. The band has been together for five years.
NS: What interested you in music in the first place? How did you get started?
EoA: Though we come from different musical backgrounds, we all had the same vision for ourselves: make music and perform. So when Joe and Andrew met during one of their first classes at the University of Scranton, fate was sealed. They quickly formed a band, finding Mike not too long after. Through a series of lead singers, Amber finally joined the ranks and has been a part of Eye on Attraction for the last year and a half now.
NS: Is this something that you’re pursuing as a career or is it just for fun?
EoA: This is a definite career path that we’re determined to follow as far as we possibly can.
NS: What was your immediate reaction or feeling when you won?
EoA: Excitement, gratitude. Of course we love what we do, but it’s always such a great feeling when other people enjoy it as well. It only confirms that we’re heading in the right direction.
NS: Why do you think you won the audience vote?
EoA: Hopefully because the audience dug our sound.
NS: How will you spend your $50 prize?
EoA: We split it up amongst ourselves and had a few drinks to celebrate.
NS: Do you perform live in front of an audience regularly? Where can people see one of your performances next?
EoA: Yes! We perform almost every weekend! We have a show coming up on June 12 at The V-Spot in Scranton – a night of EoA fan appreciation. We’ll have merch specials and be playing a new song or two.
NS: Where can people find your music online?
EoA: On our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
To see photos of all the performers from last week’s event, including Eye on Attraction, click here. For more information on NEPA Scene’s Got Talent, which is always free and open to anyone, click here.
Photo by Alex Seeley Photography
