6
September 30, 2010
A crowd gathers around to listen to the band Head Change play in Joplin, Mo, Saturday, Sept. 25.
Rockin’ the fourstates JEN RAINEY Collegio Reporter Several local bands have sprouted from the red dirt genre of music they play. Their music is not limited to red dirt, however, with selfdescribed rock, alternative, and indie sounds filling out the lineup. “I would consider our band alternative/hard rock”, said Cody Murdock, guitarist for the band Plan B. Plan B hails from Columbus, a small town about 20 miles south of Pittsburg. Besides Murdock, band members include Jared Lloyd on vocals, Justin Hurd on drums and James January on bass. The band has had its current members for about eight months now. However, in that short amount of time, they’ve already managed to make themselves well-known. Fans can hear their music often just by turning on the radio. They agree that being persistent is what helped them gain spots on the radio. “It takes a hundred calls and out of 99 you’ll get nothing, but that one will get you far,” said January. “You have to keep pushing. Some will let you down and some won’t.” The band members have a wide variety of musical influences including Bob Seeger, Ozzy Osbourne, Dimebag Darryl, as well as a variety of metal bands. The guys say it’s the variety of their influences that assist them in bringing out their own style of music. “I’m influenced by all different kinds of music,” said Lloyd. “Vocally, I would say I’m more influenced by Lance Daily and probably Chris Cornell. They’re amazing vocalists and no one can touch them. I just try to do my best.” Currently, they’re working on completing a full-length album, which will feature between 12 and 14 songs. The guys say that when writing a song, they do it as a team. One person throws out ideas and the rest feed off of that. While they have a variety of songs, they most often use their music as a way to stand up for the way they feel life should be, and can be, instead of the way it often is. “If you really listen to our lyrics, that’s what we try to say,” said Murdock. “We’re here for a good time and we don’t agree with everything that goes on in this world, but we know the world can be a better place than it is.”
All of the members stay busy with school, family and work, but this doesn’t keep them away from their music. They usually play gigs three out of four weekends a month, and although they’re busy with their personal lives, they say it’s the music that guides them. “Music runs our lives,” said Hurd. “It explains life and I think that’s what music’s for.” Plan B often performs at local bars and Wally Wetbone Productions. Through the lounges. company, Edwards says the members do their “Our shows are going to be loud,” said own booking. They also periodically coordiJanuary. “Fans can expect that we’ll give it our nate music festivals featuring a variety of local all and do everything we can to make it a good bands. The largest of these festivals was at the time for our fans.” Eastport Pitt, near Columbus. They invited Another band from Columbus is Pit 42, bands from all across the four-state area to whose members include Blaine Edwards on perform and brought in hundreds of fans. vocals, Logan Glasgow on drums and Will Pit 42’s Upcoming shows include a HalBlessant on bass. loween party on Pit 42 features Oct. 28, at Round two Pittsburg Top skating rink State University in Columbus and students, both on at Up In Flames guitar: Cody Morin Webb City, Mo, ris, sophomore in Nov. 6. Pit 42 also automotive techperformed at the nology, and Ethan Gorilla Village Blessant, sopholast semester for more in biology. the Gorilla Radio The members of Birthday Bash. Pit 42 say that Another band who one of their main performed at that influences is the event was Head band Clutch. Change, from Jop“I listen to a lin, Mo. lot of blues music, “It was differas well as music ent, that’s what I from The Black like,” said Brian Keys and Clutch,” Little, drummer for said Morris. Head Change. “We The band play at a lot of the plays all original same smoky bars. songs, and says It’s nice to come this benefits them out and play at a Joe Rhatigan, lead singer of the band Head because no one nice campus. It was Change, performs their song “Blood Sucker” has anything to during the day and compare them to, in Joplin, Mo, on Saturday, Sept. 25. nobody was drunk. other than their It was more about previous show. the music. I really liked it.” “We put a lot of time in our music and Other members of Head Change include when people give a lot of feedback and enjoy Joseph Rhatigan on vocals, Derek Rhatigan on our music it makes us feel really good,” said guitar and Matt Vance on bass. Head Change Glasgow. formed in February. 2009 when all members The band has its own music company called had connections with a mutual friend, who also
Matt Vance, bass, closes the concert with an ending solo Saturday, Sept 25. Photos by Jodi Helfin
aided in naming the band and their first album. Band members say their name explains what they’ve been through in life and illustrates their ability to bounce back from drug addictions and other previous habits. “I’m clean now, that’s the reason we’re here talking today,” said Little. “The idea of ‘Head Change’ is kind of a no junk, no soul theme. It fits, because that’s where we had all been.” D. Rhatigan says that having gone through these experiences is what has made the band members who they are today. They say this is also the source for the music they write. “I prefer to play originals, because we really get into it and the audience can feel it,” said J. Rhatigan. The writing process for Head Change is much like the other bands, as all members have a say in what is written and the way it is written. The members say each of them brings his own inspiration and ideas to the songs. “One of our powerhouse moments is that Joe’s lyrics always seem to fit what the song is about,” said Little. “Although even if someone kicks off the idea it seems like everyone has a say in it. It’s not Joe’s song, or Derek’s song, or Brian’s song, it evolves. It’s not one of those things where an ego takes over.” All of the members of the band have lives outside of their music. However, J. Rhatigan and Little agree that what help them balance everything are the women in their lives. J. Rhatigan is married and has a child and Little has two kids and a girlfriend. “If you’re going to be with someone, you have to have a woman in your life that can put up with that way of life,” said J. Rhatigan. “You have to have a woman who can support you all the way through or it’s worthless to have anybody in your life.” This way of life not only requires a certain type of woman, but a certain type of person to keep up with the demands of life onstage. “We’re trying to make a scene instead of fitting into the scene,” said Edwards.
Students talk sex with comedian Daniel Packard JEN RAINEY Collegio Reporter
Live Group Therapist Daniel Packard explains about relationships and sex to students in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
About 120 students were talking about sex last night in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom. Student Activities Council hosted a group sex therapy session at 7 p.m., conducted by comedian Daniel Packard. Packard discussed topics such as fear and vulnerability, both before and during a relationship. He also spoke of situations in his own life. “I was the original wedding crasher,” said Packard during his presentation. “Although I was at a lesbian wedding once, which made it more difficult.” Packard is classified by East Coast Entertainment as a socio-comedian. He added comic relief to a subject that is typically controversial. “I liked his style,” said Rob Clark, freshman in biology. “He used comedy to diffuse the seriousness of some of his stuff.” Packard performs across the world including Europe, Latin America, Dubai, as well as the United States. He has a radio show in Vancouver, Canada, as well. During his presentation, he had audience members text in polls, questions and comments. He did so by giving a number to text to that would send the answers straight to his computer and in turn, to the projection screen. Among the topics
he had the women text was a reason they rejected a guy in the past. Answers that were texted back included “too much facial hair,” “bald,” “weird,” “bad teeth” and even “small penis.” Nichole Brown, senior in human factors psychology, said she found the presentation to be more humorous than educational. “I was expecting it to be funny, but I was kind of expecting more of a sociological aspect to it, as opposed to just stereotyping and making jokes,” said Brown. “I liked his use of technology. I thought it was an interesting way to use texting during a presentation.” He had female audience members text whether or not they thought guys liked the thrill of a chase. seventy percent said yes. He then had men text in whether they liked girls to help with the process of the chase. The majority of the men who answered “yes.” His point was that it’s easier for a woman to ask a man on a date than it is for a man to ask a woman, because the man will generally say yes. He also encouraged women to be more confident and proactive, and talked about how awesome it is that women can make life. He says that’s what gives women all the power in male-female relationships. Jonna Fearmonti, junior in communication, was in charge of putting this
Aaron Anders/Collegio
Students laugh at the Live Group Sex Therapy sponsored by the Student Activities Council. event together. She says that she and other Student Activities Council members booked Packard to address issues many people have a hard time discussing. “We wanted to make it easier to talk about this topic, so there’s not such a shadow over men and women being able to talk about sex and relationships in general,” said Fearmonti. “It seems like
no matter what age you are, no one’s able to really talk about that.” She says she feels that with the presentation also being comedic, it ends up entertaining and fun, as well as informative. The student activities members had a dating doctor speak last spring semester and try to bring in a similar speaker each semester.