Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Chicago — John Hauldren has been a loyal Chicago Cubs enthusiast throughout his life. During the team’s recent home series, he received an unexpected text message from a high school acquaintance.
Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had chosen “Front to Back” — a track from Hauldren’s electronic music ensemble, Levity — as his walk-up tune in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Unanticipated Connection Fuels Excitement
“I was shocked,” Hauldren remembered. “I had to verify it for myself.”
Indeed, it was true. Hauldren authenticated the event through an indirect link to the rising athlete.
A Web of Relationships
Crow-Armstrong’s girlfriend has a cousin who is acquaintances with the girlfriend of PJ Carberry, another member of Levity.
Crow-Armstrong’s Musical Preferences
“My girlfriend, her cousin, and her sister recently attended their concert in Arizona,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I had already been considering using one of their songs as my walk-up music, so I decided to go ahead with it.”
Crow-Armstrong, a 23-year-old native of Southern California, also uses Larry June’s “Still Boomin” for his pre-game entrance. He admitted he’s not a major fan of dubstep — the electronic dance music subgenre where Levity is often classified. However, he appreciates their work.
Music Plays a Crucial Role
Music is integral to Crow-Armstrong’s daily life, and he relishes the process of selecting a walk-up song.
“Music is phenomenal. Universally, it is the best thing ever,” he stated.
A Differing Fandom in His Family
Hauldren, now 26, shares a similar enthusiasm when it comes to the Cubs. He is the youngest of four siblings and hails from a Chicago White Sox family in the suburbs. He grew up attending White Sox games on the South Side.
However, he always supported the Cubs.
“It simply stuck, and many of my friends were also Cubs fans,” he noted. “Fortunately, my dad would put aside his loyalty and take me to a Cubs game occasionally.”
Founding and Creation of Levity
The inception of Levity dates back to 2017 when Hauldren and Carberry met at the University of Iowa. They later connected with Josh Tarum through mutual friends, and the trio began creating music collectively.
Both Hauldren and Carberry now reside in Chicago. Hauldren contributed significantly to the production of “Front to Back” at their residence in Bucktown, which is near Wrigley Field.
“My window offers a view of the Chicago skyline,” Hauldren explained. “Watching that song played at Wrigley Field from the perspective of the view of Chicago and being in close proximity to Wrigley Field was incredible.”
The Impact of Crow-Armstrong’s Choice
Following Crow-Armstrong’s use of the song as his walk-up music, Hauldren took to Instagram to share how meaningful the experience was for him. He tagged Crow-Armstrong in the post, and the two have engaged in conversations, hopeful of a future meeting.
This year, Levity performed at Coachella and will appear at Lollapalooza this summer in Chicago’s Grant Park. Yet, Hauldren considers his connection with Crow-Armstrong as one of his most memorable moments with the band.
“I am genuinely thrilled that if someone ever chooses a walk-up song for us, it was the Cubs,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier that, out of all the teams, it was my team.”