Evelyn Barge & James Riswick
A&E Editor & Assistant A&E Editor
CLIMBING IVY (BLACK MOLLY)
Band Members: Matthew Jewett (2003 alumnus), Brad Opel (junior), Grattan Donahoe (2002 alumnus), Matthew Isbell (2003 alumnus)
Genre: Alternative, Rock
Time Together: Three Years
How they came together:
Donahoe met Jewett overseas in the Florence program. They spent all their free time jamming together and making extra cash singing for the tourists at the Ponte Vechio. After returning to Malibu, Donahoe played solo shows at the Malibu Inn, but received an opportunity that would require a full band. Isbell joined the group for that performance, while Opel joined up later when the band needed a drummer to perform for their manager and producers.
Musical Influences: Alice n’ Chains, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam
What is their music’s guiding philosophy?
“We will do it until we die,” Donahoe said. “Music will always be a huge part of our lives. Long after our band has gone its separate ways, we will still remember the chord progressions to our songs, and we will always remember playing together.”
What makes their music different?
“We won’t let you down in a live performance,” Donahoe said.
How they hope to grow as a band:
“To keep writing, keep performing and keep getting better at what we love to do so that one day we might have the honor of doing it for a living,” Donahoe said.
Next Shows:
Saturday at 11:30 p.m. at Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier.
STEPSONDAY
Band Members: Jon Eric Schmidt (senior), Nathanael Breeden (senior) and Jason Turner
Genre: Pop-rock
Time Together: One Week
How they came together:
“Jason wrote the songs. (Jon Eric) helped out. Nate rocked the drums … hard,” Schmidt said.
Musical Influences: Weezer, Nada Surf, Ben Kweller, Ben Folds, U2, Starflyer59, Pedro the Lion.
What is their music’s guiding philosophy?
“We want to write songs that could potentially change the world,” Schmidt said. “We play together because we are on the same page with each other both musically and personally.”
What makes their music different?
“We’re not metal. We have an energetic live show, uplifting sing-along choruses and an overall positive note,” Schmidt said.
How they hope to grow as a band:
“We hope to stay open minded and always make sure our songs mature with us,” Schmidt said. “Most importantly, though, we hope to stay good friends throughout and beyond the life of the band.”
Next Shows:
None currently planned
SELF-LIFE
Band Members: Micah Kafka (senior), Timothy Kafka (USC), Matt Hughes (USC), Josh Rodriguez (USC), Caleb Acton (Hope International University)
Genre: Alternative, Post Hardcore
Time Together: Since last year, but several members have played together in other bands.
How they came together:
Timothy and Micah Kafka started writing and performing songs in high school. Along with Caleb and a few other guys, they played off and on throughout their home state of Kansas and into neighboring Nebraska. Once Micah, Timothy and Acton all moved out to California, they founded Self-Life with two other University of Southern California students.
Musical Influences: Mewithoutyou, Poor Old Lu, Incubus, Blindside
What is their music’s guiding philosophy?
“We write music without following any predefined rules. We try to write songs that are honest, both lyrically and musically,” Micah Kafka said.
What makes their music different?
“Because of our diverse musical influences, our sound doesn’t fit well into any specific genre. We write songs that are both hardcore and alternative at the same time,” Micah said.
How they hope to grow as a band:
“We want to start performing more often,” Micah said.
Next Shows:
None currently planned, but will soon appear on the Pepperdine “Randumb Show.”
THE SINDICATE
Band Members: Dan Yoder (senior), Kevin Nerrison (2004 alumnus) and Austin Trujillo (2003 alumnus)
Genre: Blues
Time Together: A year and a half
How they came together:
Yoder and Nerrison have been friends since high school, and Nerrison and Trujillo were also friends. They also all liked the same music.
Musical Influences: “Led Zeppelin, The Cream, Jimi Hendrix, anything the blues and Barbra Streisand,” Yoder said.
What is their music’s guiding philosophy?
“Living life the way we want to,” Yoder said.
What makes their music different?
“Everyone’s music is unique, even the generic fecal sounding stuff,” Yoder said. “Music is the window into one’s soul … so our souls are going to look different from everyone else’s. Whether people like it or not is irrelevant.”
How they hope to grow as a band:
“It seems like everyone in music these days is trying to prove something to people,” Yoder said. “You see kids who barely know how to play their instruments playing in a band so they can get girls to like them, or virtuosos trying to show off. In the future we hope our art continues to stand outside of human constraints (like a battle of the bands ranking system) as something in which the three of us truly believe and find contentment in.”
Next Shows:
Tonight at the Dume Room, Jan. 25 at Club Good Hurt in Venice.
SOUNDMIND
Band Members: Casey O’Keefe (former Pepperdine student), John Thomas (Dec. 2004 alumnus), Brian Bushway (senior) and Travis McClain
Genre: Rock, Pop
Time Together: One Year
How they came together:
Soundmind’s founding members McClain and senior Matt Allen needed a band. Bushway, Thomas and O’Keefe had just split from their band DeFuria. After last year’s battle of the bands, the five came together to form the new Soundmind. Allen left the band in the fall.
Musical Influences:
McClain has a background in folk/acoustic guitar. Thomas and O’Keefe have a background in Jazz. Bushway sites his influences as rock ‘n’ roll and early punk.
What is their music’s guiding philosophy?
“We want good song writing, to promote a positive vibe because different music does different things to people,” O’Keefe said. “We want to maintain true to the integrity of the individual members. To not sell out. and remain unique.”
What makes their music different?
“I think our music is very harmony driven in the vocals,” O’Keefe said. “John playing sax also contributes to our sound (being different). We all come from a bunch of different musical backgrounds.”
How they hope to grow as a band:
“Hopefully (our music) all comes from a place where we enjoy what we’re doing and the way we sound,” O’Keefe said. “And hopefully people will connect with that.”
Next Shows:
Tonight at the Dume Room, Jan. 25 at Club Good Hurt in Venice.
01-20-2005
