Midwest bands to play in
Indianapolis
New bands invite students
to listen to original
music
By Sarah Szczepanski
Assistant Features Editor
E.M. Brown has a message for the Purdue community
— don’t be herded like livestock.
"Make a statement," he said. "Wake
up and don’t be sheep."
Brown, the drummer of the Indianapolis-based band
Mab Lab, wants people to step out and experience original music.
Students will have a chance to do just that this
Saturday at the Patio in Indianapolis, where three up and coming Midwest
bands will be performing as part of the Midwest Original Rock Experience
Tour.
The groups performing include Johnny Socko from
Indianapolis, the YoungeBlood Brass Band from Madison, Wis., and Brown’s
group — Mab Lab.
Joshua Silbert, the vocalist for Johnny Socko,
said during tours such as this, the groups do more than just play their
music and leave; after a few times playing together, it is not uncommon
for the other groups to make unannounced visits to the stage.
Johnny Socko, who is headlining the group, has
played more than 2000 shows during the 10 years the group has been together
and has performed with Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Fishbone and Kid Rock.
But, it doesn’t all end there.
"Success is all relative," says Silbert.
"There is always room to go higher; it never ends."
The music for Johnny Socko and Mab Lab is not completely
self-supporting yet; some members still have jobs during the day.
Brown said being in a band is like having another
job that requires 30 to 40 additional hours each week writing, going
to stores, checking ads, scheduling performances and bothering new venues
and practicing.
"We spend a lot of time to get everything
right," he said. "You have to learn how to get yourself out
there."
Planning and setting goals are important to other
groups as well.
Silbert said within a year he would like
Johnny Socko to pack a large venue on one of the coasts. The group is
also considering a self-supported European Tour, a risky 21 days or
so where the band would play for free at different venues to try to
gain more audience and how the audiences can differ. Band members can
tell when the place they are playing at is full of tourists, or people
who are not around for the original music, according to Silbert, who
has played in places ranging from Georgia to New York.
"We have our good gigs and our bad gigs,"
he said.
But bad gigs are not enough to stop either Johnny
Socko or Mab Lab from performing. There are certain things that happen
on the stage that both Silbert and Brown agree make it all worthwhile;
one of which is seeing the faces of the crowd light up when they are
on stage performing original music.
"If you like intelligent music with intelligent
lyrics, then come listen," Brown said.
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