Just off Exit 97 on I-80, a local band has emerged. As they pay tribute to the area with their name, this article pays tribute to the band Exit 97.
Exit 97 is a band composed of juniors Eli Jeppson, Dane Schmitz, Landon Brandit and Rylee Hogue. The band started in August of 2025 originally just being Jeppson, Brandit and Hogue. “It was kind of surreal at first because it was so cool to think we were an actual band, despite how bad we were,” Jeppson said. They started out just messing around in a garage where Houge, Jeppson and Brandit would just play guitar and sing. Jeppson is the lead guitarist, with Hogue being the rhythm guitarist and lead singer. Schmitz plays the bass and Brandit plays the drums.
As for favorite memories, the band has many things such as playing at fine arts or their nights practicing together. “Favorite memory is probably the first practice hearing it all come together for the first time,” Brandit said. The band had spent many nights practicing for the first live performance, which was fine arts. “They have great music taste and they were extremely talented,” sophomore Jacob Reynolds said.
While the band may not have been together for a long time, they will continue to grow together. “This summer we are going to play at some open mics around the area and small gigs,” Schmitz said. Future plans for them include playing together every summer, even after high school as it gives them some money for just doing what they love. “I think we all have lots of fun playing,” Hogue said.
