Brotherly love would be the best way to describe The Dowry. The band consists of two sets of brothers who, along with love for each other, share the same love in music.

Sean DiLeonardi and Phil Damery, members of The Dowry, met as roommates in college and both played music with their brothers.

“For my brother and I, music was part of growing up. Jamming with each other and friends by way of traditional blues riffs and hymns was a part of everyday life,” DiLeonardi said. “For the Damerys, music was more familiar and close to home. When Phil and I roomed together in college, these two worlds collided naturally as him and I began playing together.”

Since then, The Dowry has been together for three years. The band’s shared passion for music and combined unique styles make them very difficult to categorize by genre.

“I don’t know much about the genre of music that we play,” DiLeonardi said. “Other people have described it in ways better than I could have.”

The Dowry claim that what makes this band of brothers so unique is that they do not force their music. By combining the two different styles of both sets of the DiLeonardis and the Damerys, they create almost a hybrid genre.

“When the sloppy, indie/rock-laden riffs of my brother and I melded with the improvisational, homegrown licks of Phil and Jon, I guess you could say we didn’t have to make any decisions,” DiLeonardi said. “To a certain degree, the music just made itself.”

The band loves playing together and traveling together when they can, but with two members still in college, one working full-time and one being married, there is only room for occasional weekend gigs.

When the band members do get a chance to play a show, they tour a lot in the Midwest, focusing on Chicago, but also travel to Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana.

“Our tour last summer included Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas,” DiLeonardi said. “We do what we can, hoping that the future will allow for greater flexibility.”

During tours, they still get along great.

“We’re brothers, so we have to, right?” DiLeonardi said. “Being brothers means fighting is easy. (It’s) quick and painless, but most importantly, (there’s) no grudges or bitterness. There is a certain comfort in disagreeing with your brother, because you know you can just punch them and all will be forgiven and forgotten by tomorrow.”

The brothers of The Dowry do not have a specific goal as to where they want to be as a band. Right now, they are building the foundation for a career, but they are more concerned with being happy and content.

“As doors open and close (and) as opportunities present themselves, we will go where we can with this project, knowing that if we could make a living off of playing music, we would do it,” DiLeonardi said. “If not, that’s ok; the music will still be there.”

With everyone in the band having other obligations, they make the most of what they can with the band.

“This is like signing on for a full-time job, but not getting as many hours as you wanted,” DiLeonardi said.

Being a professional performer is a trip for any artist, but The Dowry has a unique respect for the music industry.

“I believe that all humans are inherently overjoyed and encouraged by the act of creation in all forms,” DiLeonardi said, “For us, at this junction in our lives, music happens to be the greatest source of creative release, and it fulfills an integral part of the human experience for us.”

The Dowry, Sean, Phil, Jon and Matt, also had a special message they wanted to spread to Eastern.

“College goes quick; enjoy it now. Don’t drink and drive. Clowns are scary. If you have any interest in coming to the show, there won’t be any clowns,” the band said.