When Dan Smith ʼ85 takes the stage with his band, The Watch, he’s transported back to his college years at Denison. The friendships, the energy, and the sound of live music have stayed with him for decades. What he didn’t expect was that his love of music would spark the same passion in his son, Mick Smith ʼ24.
Today, both father and son are carrying the Denison music tradition forward in their own ways — Dan from Austin, Texas, and Mick from Chicago. Dan still performs with The Watch whenever he can, though his bandmates now live across the country. Getting everyone together isn’t easy, but when they reunite, the years melt away.
Playing at Denison during Big Red Weekend’s Battle of the Bands, Dan said, is especially meaningful — something the band had long hoped to do. Mick, meanwhile, is carving his own path on the national stage. As the drummer for Runner and Bobby, he’s touring across the country and playing festivals, building momentum for a band gaining recognition in the indie rock scene.
For Dan, music has always been about connection. He and his bandmates Tim Wainwright ’87, Mike Maxwell ’85, and Don Lafferty ’88 came together at Denison and forged friendships that have lasted more than 40 years. “We’re like brothers,” Dan said. “The fact that we still play together is really special.”
That same spirit of camaraderie inspired Mick. Growing up hearing stories of his dad’s band, he came to Denison determined to form one of his own. First came The Cuties, a student cover band, and later Runner and Bobby, where Mick found himself part of a group writing original music, touring cities from Boston to Minneapolis, and building a fanbase of more than 60,000 monthly Spotify listeners. Runner and Bobby’s other two members are lead singer and guitarist Parker Bailey ’23 and bass player Lula Burke ’24.
“My dad always talked about what happens when you play music with others and the unique friendship and bond you build within a band,” Mick said. “I had that same experience at Denison. The people I met through music are some of my closest friends.”
In one unforgettable moment during Mick’s senior year, their two musical worlds collided. At a Delta Chi fraternity event, Mick’s band invited Dan on stage without telling him. Together, they performed “Roadhouse Blues” by The Doors, their first and only time playing side by side.
“It was such a cool moment,” Mick said. “I think that night, my dad was definitely the coolest parent around.”
That moment of harmony between father and son echoes the larger story: how Denison nurtures creativity across generations. Neither Dan nor Mick majored in music. Dan studied political science, while Mick pursued philosophy, anthropology, and sociology — but both credit the Denison community for deepening their love of the arts.
“The friendships I’ve had through music have lasted a lifetime,” Dan said. “I hope 40 years from now, Mick feels the same way about his band.”