Princeton rocks

iPods are omnipresent on the Princeton campus — students are plugged into their favorite music at the gym, on the way to class, even during less than enthralling lectures. Given all that enthusiasm, why not explore the rich, dynamic array of musical talent that thrives on this very campus? That's right, bands are a reality here at Princeton, playing at venues ranging from eating clubs to Cafe Viv and even at local bars.

Consider senior John Norwood. He knows how to rock. He's been involved with music as long as he can remember. From violin and bass in elementary school to guitar in middle school to just recently taking up singing, Norwood has been playing in bands for years, including several right here in Princeton. In his latest endeavor, entitled "The Here and Now," he is featured on lead vocals and guitar, showcasing a distinctive sound that blends elements of rock, jazz and funk into a miraculously potent sonic blend. The listener is able to groove to it, thereby reaping the benefits of a DJ, while also being able to experience a live performance that boasts unmatched electricity and energy.

Another Princeton musician who has confidently made his way into the spotlight is sophomore Tom Haine. Also a guitarist/vocalist, Haine has rocked out with his group "Tom Haine and The Common Sense" in such places as Cap, Charter, Colonial, Cafe Viv and the D-Bar. Since winning the Princetonian Idol competition last year, Haine says it is easier to find opportunities to perform. While he admits to not being overly concerned or ambitious when it comes to finding venues every week, he does acknowledge that he is happy to capitalize on those opportunities that do come his way.

Haine's band "The Common Sense" is made up of himself, Greg Marx '07, James Thomas '08 and a guy who clearly gets around in these music circles, John Norwood. Haine is the songwriter of the group and actually tailors his songs for the band so that they can be showcased at live performances. Some of Haine's favorite artists include Ryan Adams and Gavin Degraw, both of whose influence might be noted in his own music.

The band "Never Heard From Again" features straight up hard-hitting, head-banging, angst-ridden, fast-paced and rebellious, good-old-fashioned punk rock with some remnants of ska and hardcore in the mix. They also throw in a tinge of cynicism about Public Safety for good measure.

Originally formed in 2003, the band has undergone some transformations over the course of its career. Today, the current lineup of "Never Heard From Again" is comprised of seniors Wamiq Chowdhury and James Egan and juniors James McBride and Jonathan Rice '07. Over the years, they've been spotted rocking out at Terrace, Tiger Inn and Colonial. Their sets are split fairly equally between original and cover material, including that of such legendary founding punk bands as The Bouncing Souls, Bad Religion, Operation Ivy and The Ramones.

"Never Heard From Again" pride themselves on rocking out the hardest, giving their fans a great time, and are pleased to boast a loyal following, due in part to their celebrated high-energy performances.

"Being in the [mosh] pit is definitely a bone-crunching experience," said guitarist Chowdhury of the band's intensity level at live shows. Chowdhury even recalls hearing students singing or humming "Never Heard From Again" originals around campus.

"It's just so uplifting to see that there is so much rock to be rocked at Princeton, that a campus known for popped collar preps can come out and jump around and scream and shout and head bang at a punk rock show," Chowdhury said. The group is an admittedly motley crew, but the members' ability to gel seamlessly is what ultimately keeps them together, making music year after year.

As the band's website says, "these pirates of punk rock rain fury and destruction upon all in their path, while the revelers rejoice and rock out." Sound like fun? Indeed.

Other noteworthy bands around campus include the always-popular "Sensemaya" ensemble, which specializes in the funky, jazzy, groovy sounds of the afro-beat style reminiscent of Bob Marley and the man himself, James Brown.

Additionally, look for the up-and-coming pop/punk styles of Redline, bringing you original punk as well as more catchy, radio-friendly pop/punk staples such as Blink-182's "All the Small Things" and "Basket Case" by Green Day. Redline, a younger band and a fresh arrival to the performing scene, is made up of sophomores Carter Smith, Mark Ungerer, Evan Green and Ash Sarohia.

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In regards to what is important in a campus band, Haine posed the question, "Can you put on a good show?" He expressed the belief that in order to be well-received at a club, bands must be prepared to entertain and contribute to the already thriving party atmosphere.

Norwood echoed these sentiments, adding that talent alone is insufficient. He noted that Princeton has plenty of talented musicians and songwriters, but the downfall of Princeton's music scene is that procuring shows on the Street and attaining reputable, "legit" status on campus are often functions of knowing someone on the inside, such as a club social chair.

Norwood added that, apart from the established groups, there is another kind of band at Princeton: the type that exists on the periphery but doesn't actually play out at clubs.

"The Street doesn't smile upon original music," he said, which means that many of these talented bands are hidden from the Princeton audience. Norwood speculated that students out at the clubs are generally in search of familiar music to which they can sing and dance along, not something new and foreign.

Norwood did acknowledge the advantage of a place like Cafe Viv, where creative talent is more accepted and welcomed. He said, however, that he still thinks there's a problem with exposure to new, original music at Princeton. While events like Princetonian Idol, Communiversity and "Froshapalooza" are taking steps in the right direction, Norwood said, he proposed that someone create a University web site where students can post their own original material as well as listen to postings from others. Prospective Computer Science project, anyone?

While the bands and musicians on campus today will certainly admit to a love of performing live music, they're not all banking on making it big. Norwood expressed an interest in playing after college but also a realistic understanding that he just doesn't have the savings to finance such a venture should it fail. Chowdhury has also resigned himself to pursuing other interests after college, feeling that, because of its demanding nature, following music would restrict him and not allow full exploration of other endeavors. Haine also admitted that it would take a huge, unrealistic break like a fantastic record deal to persuade him into pursuing music as a career. But hey, no one faults these guys for thinking in practical terms. Band members seem to be content with playing on the side as a hobby after graduation.

The most important thing right now is that students take advantage of the musical culture that has been created at Princeton through the efforts of these numerous standout bands; look for a show at a venue near you.

— Tom Haine's web site can be found at http://www.myspace.com/TomHaineband

— "Never Heard From Again" can be found at http://nhfa.rocks.it/.

— John Norwood's group, "The Here and Now" can be found at http://www.myspace.com/thehereandnownj.