In 2003, Jeff Lloyd met Jim Wuest at a show near the Syracuse University campus. The two realized they had a lot in common: a love of songwriting, the SU jazz band and a passion for rock n’ roll.

More than a decade since graduation, the two will return to the Salt City to perform with their band, The Heavy Pets, at Funk N’ Waffles’ downtown stage on this Friday, Nov. 20.

The band found its roots at SU, where the two would jam out together with Lloyd taking on guitar and vocals and Wuest playing the keys and singing as well.

“I had a band from high school with some friends that I’d been playing with on campus and Jim just showed up at a show with a keyboard and he played that entire show with us that night,” Lloyd said. “We’ve been playing music together almost continuously since then, for better part of the last 15-16 years.”

At this point, though, the jam sessions were just jam sessions and The Heavy Pets were a few years away.

After college, the two friends parted ways, as Lloyd moved to New York City and Wuest found home in Philadelphia. However, soon thereafter Lloyd got tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city and made the decision that ultimately changed his life.

Lloyd moved to Florida with another founding member — Michael Garulli — to start The Heavy Pets. Soon after, Wuest relocated as well and the band decided to go full-time.

Since their formation, they’ve received national acclaim, as their self-titled album was named a “Top 10 Album of 2010” in a Dec. 10, 2010 article by The Huffington Post. They have appeared at several big-time music festivals like Bonnaroo, Summer Camp, AURA and Jam Cruise, yet for Lloyd and Wuest, there is something special about returning to their old college town.

“Getting back to town is a trip down memory lane and it brings back a lot of memories,” Lloyd said. “We like to get over to campus, see my old apartment on 1206 Harrison St., drive past Thornden Park and try to get that old Syracuse vibe flowing. Hopefully, this time I’m not going to remember all of the terrible weather.”

Despite being a band of many sounds — The Heavy Pets specialize in funk, reggae, jazz and rock — both Wuest and Lloyd agree their band cannot be classified into a single category or genre, as each individual member of the band write songs and brings a different sound to the table.

Funk N’ Waffles booking manager Charley Orlando said the venue is important to the city of Syracuse and hopes to expand the downtown location to attract more college students with popular bands like The Heavy Pets.

The mutual love between Funk N’ Waffles and The Heavy Pets is clear, as they played at the breakfast restaurant for first time last February in front of a sold-out crowd. The small venue that Funk N’ Waffles provides is an intimate setting for both the bands and audience members.

“Our whole thing is to give bands the chance to play to a packed house and have that like sweaty, in-the-box moment with their crowd,” Orlando said. “There’s nothing like it. You see your favorite band, like The Heavy Pets, in a small venue and they just tear your head off.”

Published on November 18, 2015 at 9:55 pm

Contact A.J.: ajgersh@syr.edu