FORT POLK, La. - By day, they command battalions of Soldiers and provide instruction on the art of war. Two are soon to take their warriors to face enemy combatants in Afghanistan. They are rugged, tough and macho - real men's men.
But when the sun sinks and the stage lights rise, they become leaders of a different sort, taking their audiences on a musical journey through classic rock with a touch of country thrown in for good measure.
They are literally a band of lieutenant colonels: Lt. Col. Blace Albert, Lt. Col. Dennis Yates, Lt. Col. Tony Coston and Lt. Col. Curt Hudson, who along with Scotty Goins, who works for the Directorate of Public Works, form the Fort Polk band known as the Bazydlo Boys.
"The band is called the Bazydlo Boys because all of the officers live on Bazydlo Street," said Albert, commander of 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. "The name has really worked out well for (Brig.) General (James) Yarbrough (Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk commander) because it gave him a lot of Backstreet Boys jokes."
Albert said his neighbor, Coston, commander of 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div, and he were talking one day and Coston mentioned he was interested in forming a band.
"He said he had bands at previous duty assignments and wanted to know if I would consider joining the band," Albert said. "I thought, 'Why not,' and decided to give it a go."
Coston said he just started asking folks in his neighborhood if they played music.
"Some did," he said. "I'd had a band at my last assignment; it worked out well and so has this. We're all about the same age so we know a lot of the same music."
The band's first gig was last Halloween.
"We played at a block party in our neighborhood," Coston said. "It was a lot of fun."
Since Coston started the band, his house is where the band gathers to practice.
"We have to give a special thanks to Coston's wife, Stephanie, because she allows us to rehearse at their house," Albert said.
Yates, a senior fire support trainer for Joint Readiness Training Center Operations Group, said rehearsals are few and far between. "We usually practice the night before a gig," he said. "That's it."
Albert joked that if they started getting paid for their performances, they might practice more.
But Coston said performing for free has its benefits. "If we're not paid, they can't complain," he said.
Albert plays a Gibson Les Paul guitar he said he purchased as a young single lieutenant.
"That's what I spent my money on," he said. "We primarily play classic rock with a little country thrown in so people won't throw beer bottles at us. This guitar is perfect for that style."
He said some people still don't believe he and his fellow officers have a rock band.
"They'll say, 'Are you serious' You're in a band''" he said.
Yates, who plays lead guitar and provides harmony vocals, said guitar came naturally for him.
"I've been playing for about 20 years and have never had a lesson," he said. "I started out on the piano and synthesizer, then moved on to the guitar."
In addition to playing his Gibson guitar, Albert said he also plays another important role for the band. "I'm generally the face of the group since I'm the best looking and the one who is usually on the album cover," Albert said, drawing a groan from his fellow band members.
Hudson said Albert's sense of humor is also an asset for the group.
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