‘Sister Band’ Gaining Notoriety

DAYTON - Best friends Molly Weppler and Abby Chapman met in band class in elementary school and since then they have been inseparable in every aspect of life, including their venture into the Walla Walla music scene.

They aren't sisters, but the 18-year old Dayton High School Alumnae still follow the sister-band model, sisters singing and playing instruments to- gether, and have recently been met with success.

The women said they are influenced largely by bands in Walla Walla as well as wider known duos like Tegan and Sara. But there is one big difference between the Lentil Brothers and groups they look up to.

"We're the only ones who aren't actually sis- ters," Weppler said.

It all started in elementa- ry school when both Wep- pler and Chapman decided to play the trumpet.

"We met in elementary school when we did band together," Weppler said. "That's probably how we became best friends."

In their freshman year at Dayton High School, the duo decided to try a differ- ent kind of music. Chapman started playing guitar that year and Weppler one year ago learned to play banjo.

" Freshman year we thought it would be cool to be a band," Chapman said. "And we started trying to make music."

For the next few years, they played together and learned songs until the Lentil Brothers started to become a more familiar name.

But first, the duo now known as Lentil Brothers needed a name.

"At rock camp a couple of years ago, we had to come up with a name on the spot," Weppler said. "And we thought, 'Well, lentils are funny. Lentil Brothers?' It came and just kind of stuck."

Weppler said she started playing the banjo to add depth and a different sound to the self-proclaimed in- die/folk duo. She said it's mostly for looks though, and isn't taking any les- sons.

"I can hardly play," Weppler said.

In the last two years, the group has been asked increasingly to perform at venues around the valley.

For their senior project, the women started actively seeking out venues for per- formances. Chapman said they had chosen music as the focus of the senior project because it was already something they were doing together, so they figured they could be more suc- cessful together

The exposure for the project helped the Lentil Brothers name grow, and Weppler said the duo start- ed to gain notoriety.

Weppler said the before she knew it, they suddenly had more invitations for gigs than ever before.

"We're thankful for all of the support we got from (the project)," Chapman said.

Now the duo is perform- ing in wineries and bars in the area with venues including locations from Dayton to Walla Walla, where the women are cur- rently attending Walla Walla Community Col- lege.

Up next for the Lentil Brothers is a tour. But, maybe not a world tour quite yet.

"(A tour) would be awesome," Weppler said. "We're just working to- ward our (associate's de- grees) for now."

The duo is working on a demo and although a release date isn't set, they have started recording. Ultimately, Chapman and Weppler both confess they keep at it because it's all about the music.

"We enjoy what we do," Chapman said. "We love music."