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Printer-Friendly ModeMetal concert held on campus
Student bands put on free show in Multi-Purpose Room
February 19, 2007 —
A lengthy effort by SVSU students Kenn Frank and Doug Julian to present a rock show on campus culminated with a five-band concert in the Multi-Purpose Room Saturday night.
Offering a mix of rock and heavy metal, the show was viewed as a success in the eyes of the two for the simple fact that it took place.
"Five people could have showed up and I would be happy just because it was such a struggle to make it happen," Frank said.
The two ran into red tape at nearly every turn, and finally found a backer in the form of the Hispanic Interest Student Organization, which only left recruiting performers for the show.
Acts included the duo's bands, Hokori and Ratchetjaw, in addition to Daybreak, The Gloaming, and Anarthria.
The mix of genres on the same bill was by design, with the intentions of offering something for everyone.
Groups like The Gloaming presented a more traditional rock style, while Anarthria's set induced outbursts of moshing through heavy guitar chords, synthesizers, and coarse vocals.
Considering the blend of talent slated to perform, the creative minds behind the show opted to avoid a battle of the bands format.
"We want to promote camaraderie among the bands," Frank said. "Certain bands are going to attract certain crowds and in a battle of the bands, that makes it more like a popularity contest. We don't want the groups worrying about winning anything."
On the audience end of the spectrum, Frank and Julian hoped the show would attract not only die-hard fans, but also those unfamiliar with metal.
The two feel metal has acquired a collection of unfair stereotypes throughout the years, a factor that may have created roadblocks during their efforts to put the show on.
"I didn't see anyone breathing fire or spitting blood in there," Julian said shortly after his group, Ratchetjaw, had concluded their eardrum-obliterating set.
Frank added he thinks people conjure up images of violence, drugs, and knuckle-dragging Neanderthals when they hear metal, an unfair assessment of what he believes to be a multi-layered genre.
"If you want to hear something technical, something heavy and something with great lyrics, metal's got it," Frank said.
With the initial show finally in the bag, the two are hopeful that future concerts can be promoted on campus, ideally once a month.
Julian points out areas like the Multi-Purpose Room and Ryder Center being underutilized for events of this nature.
"These are great places for this sort of thing, but I don't think anyone's ever really approached anyone else with the idea," Julian said. "They've used the Ryder Center for rap concerts, but we really haven't seen it used for any underground music."
The ultimate goal would be a festival that spanned the weekend, typically a time campus becomes a barren environment.
Such a festival would bring together dozens of bands and give students something different to do with their weekends.
For now, Frank and Julian are content with the knowledge they were able to generate a show that matched up with their efforts.