CLARION
Brevard College, Brevard, N.C.
Monday, February 26, 1990
Volume 57, Number 8
^ wealth of campus bands means that...
BC/ROCKS
by Ashley Cimino
Clarion Associate Editor
The quest for the unknown has
always been a primal urge in mankind.
Without it, civilization would not exist
and we'd all be sitting in caves.
Such is the case with music. Such
is the case with the chosen few at
Brevard College who have actually
formed bands and who are serious about
it.
Not just your typical southern rock
or Pop 40 groups, these bands dig deep
into the alternative wave of the '90s,
this wave which is rapidly becoming the
sound college students want to hear.
These bands are COA, The Stand,
and Weber & Peterson.
Composed of all sophomores, the
foursome, COA, seems bent (hell or
otherwise) on bringing variation to the
art of good ol' rock n roll.
The members include Sean Frazier
(lead vocals), Toby Bryant (guitarist
/back up vocals). Dean Peterson (bass),
and Rusty Burnett (drums).
"It's alternative progressive with a
heavy edge," says Toby Bryant, a
guitarist for about five years.
COA has already gained popularity
among BC students. Not only playing
at local parties and the Sweetheart's
Dance, they've also played at the Brevard
Skating Rink for a Pre-Exam Jam, and
clubs in Asheville and Aususta. Ga.
"We hope to be full-time soon, "
says Rusty Burnett, a drummer for
almost seven years, "...if you haven't
seen us then give us a try...we'll be
satisfied as long as we do it right and
have fun."
Putting in hours of practice each
week, COA not only "covers" bands
such as The Cult, R.E.M., Dryvin-n-
Cryin, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers,
but they've also composed a few good
originals including "Willow Trees and
Three Blind Mice," "Childhood," and
"Little Boy Blue."
Sean Frazier, lead vocalist for the
band, writes most of the lyrics for their
originals. "1 try to make my lyrics more
personal," says Sean. "...1 think thats
what music is about."
Sound easy? Sound glamourous?
Right. j . f
"Being in a band you spend a lot ot
Rocking on: COA performs at the Valentine's Dance. The group
includes, left to right, Dean Peterson, Sean Frazier, Toby Bryant
and drummer Rusty Burnett. (Clarion photos by Jock Lauterer)
Weber say their music is
Drummer Dane Peterson and guitaris "Our music will
a mixture of technical progressive an emotions,"
take you up and bring you down — we
time and a lot of money to play a gig
and barely break even," says bass player
Dean Peterson. "If that isn't a labor of
love then I don't know what is."
Another up and coming band at BC
is The Stand, composed of freshmen
Jeremy Hunsicker (lead vocals), Patrick
Davis (guitar/back-up vocals), Todd
Camp (bass), and "Brantley" (drums).
The Stand just recently formed and
have been practicing for only a couple
of weeks.
Says lead singer Jeremy Hunsicker,
"Our fu-st practice went with the finesse
of a band who's been together for a
couple of months."
The Stand, also in tunc with today's
progressive edge, hopes to gain
popularity at BC. "Our relaUonship
with Brevard College is strictly
platonic... but I would like to see a
small following within the school,"
says Jeremy.
"We're playing for whoever will
listen," says guitarist Patrick Davis.
"We're not catering to anyone in
particular - we have a really varied set."
Perhaps slightly different from The
Stand and COA is Weber & Peterson (or
Peterson & Weber - whichever you
prefer.) Their goal is simple; to explore
musical creation, to venture off into the
dark tunnel of the industry, where
special things have been known to
happen.
Says drummer Dane Peterson (yes,
its Dean’s brother), "We are a two piece
guitar and drum type symphony.
The two piece band has no vocalist
and relics on Dane’s drumming talent
and Tim’s guitar expertise. Tim also
play's the piano in some of their tunes.
"We use whai each of us have picked
up over the years and push it into this
particular sound that I don't think you 11
find anywhere else," says Tim.
They also describe their music has
having some very unique qualities. Our
music will take you up and bring you
down- we’ll toy with your emotions,"
says Tim.
They describe their music as a
mixture of two elements -- technical
progressive and classical. "Our music is
not jammed together or improvisalional --
it is arranged and composed," says Dane.
The band has even gone as far as to
cover a Beethoven song. Rather than
composing it with a piano, were
covering it with guitar and drums," says
Dane. "You’d think it would be really
confusing but its not... its really
organized."
Dane also agrees that their music is
not for everyone but "for people who
want to open their minds in a new
direction.
Tim Weber, a sophomore, has
played guitar for about five years. Dane
Peterson , also a sophomore, has played
drums for ten years.
All three BC bands competed Friday
night in Dunham at the Battle of the
Bands. However, whatever the outcome,
all bands seem to reflect the view of two
COA members. Rusty Burnell feels that
they eniercd "to have fun and perform."
Dean Peterson adds, "...and to reach
people you’ve never reached before.
says Weber.