October 9, 2013 The Signal page 19
Students band together, trumpets and all By Shayna Innocenti A&E Assistant
College students put down the books and picked up instruments at the Rathskeller on Friday, Oct. 4, as the bands Semiotics, Valgaian Trio and Keepin’ the Family showcased their talent for Student Band Night. Semiotics, an alternative-emotions duo, was the first band to perform. Senior journalism and media studies double major Nick Rapon from Rutgers, played the electric guitar and sang six original compositions, as well as a cover of Joyce Manor’s song “Constant Headache.” “The basis of our music is emotion,” Rapon said. “I get inspiration for lyrics from very negative places: family issues, school, work, ex-girlfriends. The music is more real that way.” One of their songs, “Astral Energy,” even discussed religion. The slow opening coupled with the fast-paced chorus truly took the audience on a journey. Rapon and drummer Alex Manoski themselves have been best friends for 12 years. “The first time I picked up a guitar, (Manoksi) was there,” Rapon said. “We have had some really great times.” While the two have been longtime friends, they have only been bandmates on and off for two or three years. “This is more of a fun thing than something serious,” Rapon said. Despite playing solely for recreation,
Photo by Alyse Delaney
Student performers come from as far as Rutgers to play at the College. Semiotics have appeared at various venues in both Philadelphia and the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, N.J. “We do a lot of garage-base shows,” Rapon said. Bass player Jibran Miser, a Rutgers student, was absent from Semiotics during their performance. The progressive band Valgaian Trio took to the stage next. This purely instrumental set of an electric guitar, bass and drums played for 30 minutes and introduced the audience to music that was a harmonious and simultaneous blend of several genres. “The progressive music we like to play doesn’t call for lyrics or vocals,” bassist
Lucas Gisonti said. “We like to think that the music speaks for itself.” The warped sounds of their music coupled with the infectious rhythm carried throughout, raised multiple rounds of applause from the audience — even though the music did not stop. The band has only been playing together for four months, but they are already making a name for themselves. According to Gistonti, Valgaian Trio will be playing at Crossroads, N.J. at the Battle of the Bands on Sunday, Oct. 13. Gistonti said he was very happy with the performance and he was happy that he could share the experience with his two best
friends and bandmates: drummer Anthony Assante, junior biology major at Ramapo, and guitarist Vincent Assante, junior violin major at Montclair. The folk-rock band Keepin’ the Family closed the night, entertaining the audience with an unusual collaboration of instruments ranging from an electric guitar and drums to a banjo and a trumpet. The crowd pleaser of the night was trumpet player George Maher. Maher and his trumpet played echoed lyrics of the songs while keeping tempo alongside the drums, thoroughly impressing the audience. “The trumpet was great,” sophomore history major Rob Handerhan said. Handerhan’s surrounding friends all nodded in agreement while cheering for both Maher and Cafaro. Maher said that his parents first introduced him to jazz music when he was young, and his love for the genre grew and evolved. “I like infusing jazz music with different sounds and elements,” Maher said. Other members of the band included Mike Winnicki on drums, Riley Bryne on bass and Russell Gottlieb on both the banjo and guitar. The band has been together for two years, and they are eager to branch out and perform in other states, according Cafaro. “We would like to play in more venues in New Jersey, but also some in Pennsylvania and New York as well,” Cafaro said.
Highlighting Sarnoff’s legacy in technology By Courtney Kalafsky Correspondent On Friday, Oct. 4, the Brown Bag Series continued its series with Benjamin Gross’s lecture “David Sarnoff, RCA Laboratories, and the Dawn of the Electronic Age.” Gross presented the history of technology to a “standing-room only” auditorium, packed with both faculty and students. The lecture corresponded with “The Sarnoff Collection,” an exhibition of artifacts displaying technology’s progress from the era of telegraphs to LED screen
wristwatches and calculators. Gross is the consulting scholar and curator of the College’s Sarnoff Collection housed in Roscoe West Hall. David Sarnoff has been recognized as a key player in technology’s advancements over the past century. According to Gross, Sarnoff “stumbled his way” into his future profession while pursuing an early career in journalism. Shortly after, it was evident that fate had brought him into the world of higher technology. At a young age, Sarnoff was involved with Morse code and even performed an integral role
in organizing the rescue for the Titanic. As his dreams and ambitions grew, Sarnoff quickly realized that technology opened a world of opportunity. Sarnoff supervised a team of engineers through the creation of in-home radios, televisions and other innovations. Despite facing many financial and competative challenges, Sarnoff’s team at NBC made accomplishments that were once thought to be impossible. “It was a question of confidence … I let them know I believed in them more than they believed in themselves,” Gross said, quoting Sarnoff on his team’s success.
Gross displayed expert oratory in his ability to engage the audience in his lecture. He commanded the room’s attention simply by exhibiting his pure interest in the subject. Throughout his speech, Gross projected images of Sarnoff, his colleagues and their inventions, allowing the audience to visualize the developments. Additionally, comedic relief made the speaker relatable to the students. While discussing the names of various organizations, Gross said, “I am sorry for the alphabet soup.” The lecture was concluded
with a statement of the three most important things that Sarnoff left behind after his death in 1971. Technological artifacts, evidently, provide the most concrete testimony of his work. However, Sarnoff also created a community of scientists and engineers, and perhaps most importantly, a positive attitude toward innovation. Freshman graphic design major Ariana Sluyter expressed her overall deduction on the insight of the lecture. “It’s interesting to think that engineering and communications work hand in hand — they need each other,” she said.
addiction, violence and even patricide by looking through the minds of people like Vernon and Petunia Dursley of 4 Privet Drive: narrowminded, self-obsessed, patronizing and judgmental. In the quaint suburban town of Pagford, Barry Fairbrother suddenly passes away, leading to a political and personal fallout. As a result, the reader has the opportunity to read the twisted minds and disconcerting reactions of many townspeople affected by the sudden death. Rowling takes further steps toward revealing their deepest and darkest secrets causing extreme dysfunction imbedded within the community. With a multitude of serious and disturbing events scattered across the pages, it comes to an end with two abrupt and crude murders. Rowling received quite a bit of flack from critics across the board. The New York Times called her
novel far from engaging — odd, mundane and two-dimensional. No, the novel did not meet up to the imaginative and exciting plot of the “Harry Potter” series, but it did explore the harsh truths of societies everywhere. The insular town deals with class tension in a few ways: for one, a battle between one political party and a public housing project, and in another, a clinic for addicts against another with a moral sense of duty for the less fortunate. These issues hit home, especially when comparing it to the face-offs between American political parties. Although the content was dry, unconventional and often slow, Rowling got her point across: reality is not filled with magical tales of victory. Instead of departing platform nine and three-quarters on Hogwarts Express, we are brought straight back home. We did not fall in love with the characters, but in
turn, reflected our own. Regardless, our hearts will always belong to the seven volumes of the magical world of Harry Potter. We can only
hope Rowling does not pursue the banal life of Pagford, but instead brings more color to the pages of her work, like we are so used to.
Muggle struggles: Rowling takes on reality By Ananya Sen Correspondent The phrase “casual vacancy” is used when a local councilor fails to make his declaration of acceptance of office within the proper time, when his notice of resignation is received or on the day of his death. Last year, author J.K. Rowling stepped far out of the realm of Hogwarts, magic and wizardry to the real, tough and cruel depths the land of Muggles. “The Casual Vacancy,” her new book, was a definite surprise to Rowling’s audience. The “Harry Potter” series highlights themes of friendship, loyalty, faith, courage and perseverance. Readers of all ages from around the globe are accustomed to Harry and his friends fighting evil but somehow managing a victory every time. Rowling’s new novel instead features intense subjects of suicide, rape, heroin
Rowling takes a cutthroat look at a world of realism.
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