Freshman Travis Lyon, lead guitarist for the quintet called The Quincy Mumford Band, has a full plate this year.

Lyon is a full-time student at GW, but he also tours up and down the East Coast with the band.

“Music takes up more of my time than I realize,” he said. “It’s my favorite thing in the world to do.”

Aside from Lyon, the members of the reggae, soul and jam band-influenced Quincy Mumford Band reside in New Jersey. Although he doesn’t rehearse with the group during the week, his weekends often consist of back-to-back gigs, late-night train rides and sleep deprivation.

“I’m not a genius, but I have a good memory” that allows him to balance school work and band practice, he said.

Since Lyon isn’t able to play during the week, the band has an alternate guitarist to fill in for local gigs. This summer, however, the band will tour continuously for two weeks along the East Coast and has applied to play at SXSW music festival.

Lyon started playing with the group after hearing about the need for a guitarist through a friend of the band’s. He auditioned “informally” and got the job.

“It all worked out for me,” he said.

Lyon plans on majoring in history or American studies, but hopes to play music full time after he graduates.

“I honestly won’t be happy any other way,” he said.