The tent's awning blocks the brilliant sunlight from the stage where second-year College student Norman Smith stands. The tape-recorded words of former President Bill Clinton drift through the air: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."
Smith turns to the audience and, in a sly voice says, "It wasn't me."
The student band's amusing opening makes fans rave with laughter, as the members of 37U jam to their own version of the popular song, "It Wasn't Me." The venue for this young band's performance was Hoodang, a benefit concert held this month to raise money for both the Women's Shelter in Charlottesville and the American Cancer Society.
Inspired by their common love of music and the multitude of opportunities for young bands to experiment with their talent, many student bands like 37U have been on the rise in the midst of a musically inclined University community.
"U.Va., and Charlottesville in general, is a hidden Mecca for musicians because there are so many scenes to play at," said second-year College student Steve Shuster, a member of 37U. "Coming to a college with large-scale parties means that any given weekend, you can have 400 people who love to hear your live music."
37U recently formed as a student band that primarily plays cover songs. The band - first-year College student Jon Thompson, third-year Architecture student Ben Thompson, third-year College student Christian Doermann and second-year Engineering student Reed Catlin - attributes its success to the support of its friends. And there's also the fact that 37U's audiences are made up of mostly laid-back college students just out to have a good time.
"We target our audience to see what people like at parties and bring it to them live, with an added twist, and a bunch of good-looking guys," Shuster said.
Playing for the future
The clatter of pots and pans, the mellow sizzling of meat and the hustle of caterers as they prepare the last minute touches of their decorative delicacies sound throughout the building.
But on the second floor of this spacious brick building, which houses the American Dream Catering company, you will find a different kind of sound and a different kind of environment. The rhythm of drums echoes through the large attic space, the musical harmony of guitars melds together and the lyrics to "Play That Funky Music" pulsate through the room.
Rather than caterers, you will find the band members of Fiddler's Green diligently working and reworking riffs into new songs.
After exploring his musical talents in various bands while in high school and then debuting at select bars in Richmond, second-year College student Wynn Walent started Fiddler's Green last semester with three other friends, second-year College students Danny Lee and David Cicero and third-year Commerce student Jason Pickard.
"Right now, we're having a lot of fun playing college student-friendly music," Walent said.
Fiddler's Green has performed at numerous fraternities, the Greenskeeper and Wild Wings Cafe, where it played last Wednesday. With four to five practices per week, Fiddler's Green has high aspirations of attracting a broader audience and recording its four original songs.
"Our eventual goal is to be a band that writes and plays original songs and is successful with our own music," Walent said as he rhythmically tapped his right foot in the same way he does when he's singing.
Some student bands like 37U play simply to relish the moment of performing for friends while making a couple bucks on the side. But other bands like Fiddler's Green have hopes of gaining popularity at the college level, recording a CD and pursuing success far into the future.
One of the biggest challenges that young bands face is getting their name out to students, Greek organizations and the various clubs and bars who will hire them. Band members say they first draw an audience by playing cover songs that their audience recognizes, which gains them respect as musicians, so they can later progress to playing their own songs.
Second-year College student Danny Lee, the guitarist and backup singer for Fiddler's Green, has found that playing at his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, has provided great exposure for his band.
"It's been awesome to have the support of our friends at our shows," Lee said. "And when they invite their friends from Virginia Tech and James Madison University, we are able to really get our name out of just the U.Va. scene and have the possibility of playing for broader audiences."
Trying to harmonize schedules
Bottle Rocket, Scooter Groove, Jane Fonda and the Workouts: Pick a name, any name, because they all point to the same musically talented group of men. Although the multitude of band names may fool some people into thinking this is just a band in the making, the band's success would attest otherwise.
Three years ago, the group members - fourth-year College students Andy Lofton, Randall Blair, Brennan Reed and Ethan Bauley; fourth-year Engineering student Will Foster; and third-year College student Mark Manley - merged their two high school bands into one. They have since performed at local bars, numerous fraternities, and some sorority events.
Last year, the band recorded a CD at the Virginia Arts Recording company in Charlottesville. The CD, titled "Laissez-Funk," features what the band considers to be three of its strongest funk music cover songs as well as four original tunes.
Yet Manley said it has not been easy trying to create a strong band while also being a college student.
"We quickly came to realize how much time we really had, and that we couldn't sacrifice our schoolwork," he said. "Even if we only live a street away, getting six people with such varying lives to commit to practice at a convenient time is such a challenge."
Contrary to many other young, aspiring musicians, school must be these band members' No. 1 priority.
Moreover, the bands have faced other limitations as well. Especially for a first-year student living in a dorm room, the cramped atmosphere definitely is inadequate for storing drum equipment. Even as an upperclassman, not only is finding storage space difficult, but securing a place to practice is a struggle as well.
Must not be the money
One of the crucial parts to being a successful band is for audiences to hear you loud and clear. But even this can be expensive. Unless a band has invested between $1,000 and $1,500 to purchase its own equipment, it must rent a public address system, something that can reduce its profit.
However, with equipment expenses, the amount of time invested, and the marginal fees it charges, it is apparent that none of these bands perform simply for the money.
"We earn anywhere from $200 to $500 for a gig - everything pays for itself and then a little more," said Walent. But he believes playing in the band is not so much that a job as it is a passion.
Regardless of whether these students will pursue a bigger music career after graduation or follow other paths to success, these student bands originated at U.Va. because they love performing live music in front of their friends and their college audience.
"Everyone in our group is an incredible musician who isn't trying to make spectacles of themselves," Manley said. "Even if I never play in another show again, I'd be happy because we've had a lot of great performances and a lot of great memories"
Read More
The naked party uncovered
By Mia Tan | 8 hours agoThe naked party, founded by fourth-year Architecture student Wells Woolcott, is the first of its kind at the University in recent memory.
A second chance to dress for graduation
By Julianne Saunders | YesterdayI have learned to see my college graduation not as a way to make up for the past but as an event worth celebrating on its own.
How study abroad taught me to stop studying
By Grace Scott | May 10, 2024Turns out, it took attending one of the most prestigious universities in the world for me to realize there's more to life than studying.
