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Students from all around campus came together at Wells Commons Saturday night to support the University of Maine’s radio station, WMEB 91.9. Local music acts ranging from folk to hip hop performed for the eager crowd. Each act was introduced by a station DJ.
The night started at 8:00 p.m. when punk performers The Green Bikes opened the show with what they referred to as “covers and original covers.” Their pop-punk rendition of Hanson’s “Mmbop” was too dry and clich� to receive the cutesy attention that they wanted. Too many people cheered for the band’s comfort when lead singer Erik Schwab asked, “Who hates me?”
The show didn’t get much better when New Rome took the stage. Their middle-of-the-road rock supplied the “Creed crowd” with plenty of cheering fodder.
The lead singer’s real lack of ability took effect during their first and last ballad. His flat high notes ruined what respectability the rest of the band had.
The band did well at gaining audience attention, as the lead singer pulled the audience towards the front of the room to create a crowd-like atmosphere for the first time that evening.
Turning the show around were local rockers Lowfive. The band played a tight set and was able to keep the show moving even when bassist Jason Unterreiner broke a B string. Credit has to be given to Unterreiner seeing as the B string is the thickest string and is virtually impossible to break.
Talented folk musician Joanne Pineau was showcased on the side stage. Her acoustic rendition of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” quieted the audience members that were talking in between sets and entranced the crowd.
The first hip hop act came in the form of UMaine rapper Casey Sprogis. His act had a shaky start when he had to rewind his first track four times before he could get the lyrics right.
Sprogis’s homebrewed rhymes showed that he is really into drinking forties and puffing chronic. Straying from the theme of narcotics was the piece “Microphone Respect,” where Sprogis told the importance of the microphone.
“I have to give props to the most important thing in the world, the microphone,” Sprogis said. “Without it, you couldn’t hear me right now.”
Sprogis went on to throw free CDs at the audience. As for his rapping, Sprogis showed a lot of raw talent.
It appeared as though the entire hippie population on campus came out of thin air when jam band Dr. Radical took the stage. The band’s mix of funk and rock kept the audience swaying and jumping during their entire set. The only thing missing from their set list was their trademark rendition of the Super Mario Bros. theme song.
The audience really got into the groove when professional funkmeisters The Funkizon took over. The Funkizon played a typical jam band set until they called New York rappers Little Egypt to the stage. Little Egypt and Funkizon rocked out, pumping up the audience by proclaiming, “We’ve got the funk!”
The great turnout at Wells Commons proved that local music and radio are not dead. For more information on these bands and more, tune your radio to WMEB 91.9.
Bangor Daily News