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Cylinderhead was a four piece modern rock band. It was probably one of the
most growth inducing and creative times for Priscilla as a musician. This band
was the first one she played guitar and sang in. And she was a main songwriter
in the band along with Bassist, Ken Seech and Guitarist, Chris Henderson. While
working in Cylinderhead, Priscilla had the opportunity to show off her powerful
vocals and her ability to be a strong rhythm guitar player on both electric and
acoustic guitars.
Unfortunately, like most bands starting out, Cylinderhead did not stay
together very long before breaking up. Although there was a great amount of
talent and creative energy flowing, Cylinderhead as a group did not have the
stamina or the maturity to function well together as a unit. Inter-band strife
and struggles for control and power caused much friction within the workings of
the band.
In fact, Tim McHugh, a close friend of the band and now lead singer
for the Atomic Numbers, labeled their band house in Ypsilanti, Michigan "the
cylindrical house of love"
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at first...but it soon became "the cylindrical house
of tension." Like many band break-ups, the parting was one with all the ill
feelings associated with a bad divorce.
Even though Priscilla's most promising band broke up, it turned out to be one
of the most eye-opening experiences for her both professionally and personally.
She said, "I think we were just too young to be able to be happy with our
individual roles and strengths. It was a situation where none of us were secure
enough with our talents to allow someone else to have more control and input
over the creative output of the band."
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She continued, "Plus I think for me, I
was just ready to move on and see what I could do on my own. There's tremendous
value in having to rely on yourself soley for creative ideas and direction." And
so with this new attitude, Priscilla began exploring her artistic songwriting
capabilities on her own in an acoustic format, "I think there was a challenge
and great appeal for me to simply perform with my acoustic guitar and voice. In
a loud band, I don't think my voice ever had a chance to really be used the way
you can when you're in a more quiet setting." So she began playing the coffee
house circuit in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and other surrounding college towns in
Michigan.
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