Music provides band with escape

By Jamie Teibel
Staff Writer

Fight Gravity's members look like a motley crew — a member from Russia, one from Korea and two Americans — but they're not. The members are surprisingly similar. They are all engineering students who began their musical careers with classical music but continued with rock 'n' roll.

Guitarist Jay Ro, bassist Kostya Reverdatto and guitarist Brain Black met in high school. Drummer Keith Melchiors met Ro while performing in the Purdue Symphony Orchestra.

Beginning at the age of 5, Ro has learned to play the violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar and bass but never felt the "calling" of a classical musician.

"I was tempted to go to a music school but always played as more of a hobby," he said. "I didn't want to sacrifice the enjoyment of the instruments."

Melchiors, Reverdatto and Black began with playing piano. In high school they learned the instruments they play in Fight Gravity.

The first band Black played in was heavy metal.

"Most guys wanted to be heavy metal; I was more of a punk into alternative," he said.

So was the rest of the band. Fight Gravity is an alternative band, named after a song written by Black. The group cover songs from artists such as Weezer, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Nirvana and Blink 182.

"Fight Gravity is the kind of band that you go to see to have fun," said Reverdatto. "We put a lot of energy into our music."

Melchiors said, "It makes me want to get up and dance."

Reverdatto said that the band's diversity has a positive effect on the music it plays. Members all bring something different to the band, turning it into a team effort.

Black said, "Everyone sings and plays; there is no constant lead singer." He said that whoever can sing a song better, does it.

For Ro, Reverdatto and Black — the senior members of Fight Gravity — the band is about having fun; they do no plan to pursue musical careers after graduation. It is a break from academic responsibilities that they get only once a week because of their busy engineering schedules.

Ro, who considers music one of the best blessings in his life, said the band is simply a fun outlet for him; he would never want to do it as a job.

"Engineering is a safe route; you're pretty much guaranteed a job," he said.

Reverdatto has similar feelings and said, "Music has always been a part of my life, and I do not intend to give that up in the future. After graduation I plan on going to graduate school and then live the American dream with a white picket fence and meatloaf on Thursdays."

Melchiors, the youngest member of Fight Gravity, said he would like to continue playing in bars and clubs, but doesn’t let music determine where he will go in life.

"I get to play awesome music while getting a degree; it's a great way to relax after a long week," he said.

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