Luke Faillaci was working at a Boston-area engineering firm when industry reps began noticing his music. Five years earlier as a first-year student at Northeastern University, he’d begun recording and uploading tracks to Soundcloud. Then, a year into his new corporate life, Faillaci was determined to make it as a mechanical engineer. However, a persistent music manager took keen interest in those tracks on the internet. Brian Schwartz first tried sending a series of messages to Faillaci’s Instagram. When those went unanswered, he found the engineer’s resume on LinkedIn, sent an email, and soon both men were discussing the idea of Faillaci and his band having a viable music career.
After that fateful conversation and two years of recording and touring,
the band Fai Laci debuts in the Hostess City, Friday, Sept. 25, at “Forsyth Frequency,” a one night only, mini-music fest in Forsyth Park. The event kicks off at 4 p.m. with the School of Rock band followed by atmospheric alt-rockers Visit Neptune. Fai Laci headlines with a set from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is free and open for all to attend.
Within the first weeks of freshman year, guitarist Anthony Cervone and vocalist Luke Faillaci were recording music on a laptop in their dorm room. Though Cervone would eventually transfer to Berklee College of Music, the collaborators kept in touch, and Faillaci then met drummer Zack Putnam. These two garnered a reputation for showing up to college parties only to leave and make music on their computers. Guitarist Michael Goldblatt and bass player Cal Hamandi also found their way into the mix. When Faillaci finally spoke with Brian Schwartz, he knew with proper convincing he had the best team for bringing the songs back to life and getting them in front of people again.
“Our manager said ‘yeah, you can really do this’,” recalled Faillaci. “We’ve been playing as a five-piece now for the past two years and touring consistently since November. We’ve put a lot of time into the creative side of music, and now we’re leveling up our live show, aiming to improve each time we’re on stage.”
Schwartz proved much more than mere manager. He had a solid relationship with Dan Auerbach of indie-alternative-soul-rockers The Black Keys and introduced Faillaci and Cervone to the revered musician and producer. After their meeting, Auerbach welcomed the band Fai Laci to his eclectic label Easy Eye Sound, featuring a roster of diverse acts from Hank Williams Jr. and Son House to Shannon and the Clams and Yola.
“Meeting Dan was a big moment,” said Faillaci. “We had no exposure to the industry and hadn’t worked with anyone who is the way he is, just a real guy interested in helping younger people that he believes in. Dan knows what it’s like to be us.”
In March 2025, the band headed to Nashville for a two week session working with Auerbach in his studio. They brought with them a batch of demos that Fallaici and Cervone had mostly tracked at home. Since the band had formed and was most productive during their years together in college, they hadn’t played live in the intervening year or so. The bandmates reconnected and rigorously worked up the songs before arriving at Auerbach’s studio. After that first session, they reconvened once more at Auerbach’s to complete the album in October 2025. By then, the band knew what to do, how to do it, and what to expect. June 26, marked the release of Fai Lacy’s debut album “Elephant in the Room.”
“We’ve learned a tremendous amount over the last two years, especially how the industry and record labels work,” emphasized Faillaici. “Believe me, recording in a studio is very different from producing music on our own. We came to really know Dan and trusted him to take what we had and make it even better. When we recorded live as a full band, a sense of cohesiveness came through, and we got a more rock band sound instead of just music made in a bedroom. Dan really pushed us to get the best sound, energy, and expression out of us.”
“Elephant in the Room” charges in unapologetically. With a foundation in alternative rock and flashes of in-your-face punk and occasional Americana-tinged harmonies, the music resounds as its own force of sound. To be sure, fans of Cage the Elephant will appreciate the album’s overall sonic feel, while classic rock lovers will embrace the emotion and theatrical delivery. The record’s second track “Sarasota” powers with fast, jangly guitars reminiscent of early aughts rockers, Jet, while moody, uptempo “Elephant” conjures Cage the Elephant with Harry Styles-esque vocal delivery.
But it’s the haunting melody and harmonies of “She Knows,” the album’s eighth track, that stands out uniquely among the songs, suggesting My Morning Jacket and The Black Keys.
“This song started when Anthony spent Christmas 2025 with my family in Connecticut,” recalled Faillaci. “We were playing guitars and then went to a small bedroom in our house and hashed out the demo until 3 a.m. up in a little bedroom right after Christmas. The demo of this song was just four tracks, two voices and two guitars, then the rest of the band added their touches before we took it to Dan’s studio. This track and the process of shifting from bedroom recording to performing and then recording live really pays homage to who we are and how we started.”
Emily Creaven—marathon runner, event promoter and non-profit leader—came up with the idea to host a one-night rock music event in Forsyth Park. In May, via her company Off Record Productions, she hosted a live music event to celebrate the end of SCAD’s 2025/ 2026 school year. A couple months later, she set up the one-day Roundhouse Music Festival. Currently, she’s finishing up the details in launching her own music-focused nonprofit, Artist Emergent.
“My aim is to give the community more access to music and new bands,” emphasized Creaven. “I want to contribute to more stages for emerging artists and draw bigger touring names to Savannah. A parallel aim is helping platform local businesses and area nonprofits, and yes, right now to make it happen, I’m boot strapping it with my own financing. I dropped everything and went full speed ahead with music promotion. I enjoy doing this. In the promotion industry, you have to go big or go home, take risks, and I’m willing to do that to bring new, emerging music to Savannah.”
With positive relationships with music managers and booking agencies, Creaven anticipates organizing more events in and around the Hostess City. She anticipates Roundhouse Music Festival having two installments per year during spring and fall.
After Fai Laci performs in Forsyth Park, the band heads to Wilmington, NC. And stays on the road until the end of October.
“We are completely dedicating ourselves to touring and playing live right now,” said Faillaci. “It’s so exciting to be driving across the country and meeting some of the people coming out to our shows. People really want to hear live rock music, and that feels very special. We are playing the best shows we possibly can and look forward to continuing this journey.”
If you go:
What: Forsyth Frequency with School of Rock Band, Visit Neptune, and Fai Laci
Where: Forsyth Park, Savannah, Ga
When: Friday, Sept. 25, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Fai Laci headline beginning 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: 'Fai Laci' brings debut album to Savannah stage | Exclusive
