Thriving Ivory drummer Paul Niedermier said it surprises him when fans tell him how much the song "Angels on the Moon" means to them.
"That song was written about the time I joined the band," said Niedermier during a phone call while on the road between Mobile, Ala., and Jacksonville, Fla.
"It was done so long ago that it was a no-brainer what our first single would be when we released the album. And it is gratifying for us to hear how our fans have received it," he said.
"One fan has told us that she was driving one night when her brother was murdered," he said.
"She got the call on her cell phone and heard the news. Well, after she hung up, the CD she was listening to started to skip. So she threw the CD out the window and on the radio was 'Angels on the Moon.'
"Another fan told us that her friend had died of cancer and she talked to him just minutes before he died and then went on his Web site. And the song was on his Web site."
But there are still other fans who have a different take on the mid-tempo, heartfelt tune.
"We have a fan who has told us continually that the song is about the New York Yankees," said Niedermier with a laugh. "He is adamant about it, too."
"Angels on the Moon" hit some radio stations before the band signed to Wind-Up Records. It was through various gigs and word of mouth that Thriving Ivory's name was tossed around to various major record labels.
"We did the flying to New York thing about five times," said Niedermier. "And every time we did, we worked our way up the corporate ladder and were always told 'no' by the record executives.
"During those times, I started to wonder if I should go back to school."
However, when Wind-Up Records got ahold of the band's demo recording, label owner Diana Meltzer charted a flight so she could meet the band and see it play live.
"They took us out to dinner afterward and literally offered us the deal then," said Niedermier, whose bandmates include vocalist Clayton Stroope, keyboardist Scott Jason, guitarist Drew Cribley and bassist Bret Cohune.
"Wind-Up is the perfect label for us, and they understood what we wanted to do."
Still, Niedermier said, deciding to make the band a career was a leap of faith.
"I was in college and auditioned for the band after my roommate found a flier," he said. "After realizing that the band would require a lot of dedication, I quit school.
"It's funny because some of my friends who are still in school have told me that me being in the band is so cool because I'm doing what I love and all that. But I look at them and see stability. They are in school, and soon they will get that diploma, which will lead to a career. But in the band's early days, our career consisted of booking a show on a weekend and then booking another the next and so on."
Niedermier was always drawn to the drums.
"Every time I'd listen to music, I would focus without thinking on the rhythms," he said. "And I decided to start playing when I was in seventh grade.
"Little did I know that I'd be playing drums every day, at least 200 days a year."
If you go...
What: Thriving Ivory, Company of Thieves
Where: Murray Theater, 4916 S. State
When: March 18, 7 p.m.
How much: $15
Phone: 801-467-8499, 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com