Former UCSB lecturer Doug Folsom had daydreamed of partying like a rock star since he was a kid – but unlike most faculty members, he eventually decided to trade grades for groupies.
Folsom, a former College of Creative Studies physics lecturer, left his job at UCSB last year to join a rock band. Yesterday, he returned to Santa Barbara, not only to perform, but also to help his old students with their homework.
After working for three years at the university, Folsom left in October 2006 to assume the position of lead vocalist and bassist in the band Echoburn.
The band, a self-described "powerful new rock four-piece" based in Harrisburg, Penn., was touring clubs in the northeastern United States for seven months before arriving in downtown SB last night to perform at the popular club SOhO.
The band, which thus far has established itself as a classic rock cover band, is planning to release an album within the next two months.
Folsom said his life-altering decision to pursue a career as a musician arose from a childhood fantasy that he decided to pursue when his brother Greg offered him a position in his band.
Folsom returned to Santa Barbara to do more that just perform, holding office hours on campus to visit his former students and assist them with their schoolwork.
Sean Haney, a former student of Folsom's, was among approximately 15 others who attended the office hours yesterday. Haney said he thought Folsom was an impressive instructor.
Haney said the absence of his former instructor was saddening, but that he and his classmates were supportive of Folsom's decision to follow his passion.
As for the future, Folsom said he would consider returning to his former profession one day, but in the meantime, he is simply enjoying the journey.