Rock and Roll Returns

by John Downey '23 on October 21, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


A Retrospective of The Latest Student Concert at The Met

Last academic year, there were three concerts featuring Providence College students at The Met in Pawtucket, RI. With each show featuring student bands, the turnouts were always in the hundreds, and the crowds loved every second of it. The student who orchestrated much of what happened at these shows was Nolan Donato ’22, who started putting on shows at The Met with his band in 2019. A combination of Donato’s draw, effective marketing, and a yearning for shows caused by the pandemic led to the concerts being some of the most exciting events of the last school year.

However, after Donato graduated in the spring, there was some concern that concerts at The Met wouldn’t be able to happen anymore. The looming question was whether or not other student bands would be able to continue the success of the previous shows. After a summer away, it wasn’t certain whether or not students would still be interested.

After Oct. 6, the answer is a resounding yes.

Two weeks ago, the first Met show since May occurred, and it was certainly a night to remember. The bill consisted of three student bands: St. Joe and the Dorms, Jack Wilmot and Co., and Timeless. Each band showcased a different but appealing sound that kept the audience enthralled the entire way through.

Starting off the night were St. Joe and the Dorms. The trio, known for its energetic and chaotic live shows, did not disappoint, with guitarist Griffin May ’24 and bassist Jack Downey ’23 spending more time in the air than on the ground. The band tore through fan favorites such as The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” and the Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right,” as well as their crowd-pleasing original “Sometimes I Think.” With drummer TJ Johnson from the University of New Hampshire taking his place behind the kit, the band was the tightest it’s ever been.

Following The Dorms was Jack Wilmot ’24 and his backing band. Wilmot played his debut set at The Met in May, winning over the audience with his voice and charisma. This time around, he gathered together a backing band consisting of Ryan Peduto ’25 on lead guitar, Alex Rzehak ’23 on rhythm guitar, and Brendan Greene ’24 on drums. Unlike the previous band’s, Wilmot’s set consisted largely of modern alt rock and indie rock songs, such as Declan McKenna’s “Brazil.” He also performed his debut single, a slow burning tune called “Make It.” Wilmot was occasionally joined by his friend from Holy Cross, Matty Lucey, who helped keep the crowd hyped up.

Closing out the night was Timeless, a band that has recently been building momentum on campus. Most recently, it played the senior class dance, 223 Night, to raucous acclaim. They received a similar amount of praise at The Met. With their full six-member lineup, including PC students Cross Pistocco ’23 (vocals, guitar) and Ben Gemma ’23 (drums), the band members proved that their constant playing renders them a tight-knit group. They pulled off different styles with ease, jumping from classic rock to funk to hip hop and back again, and by the end of the night, the crowd joyously mustered up all its energy to join them in singing “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond.

Overall, the night was more than a triumph. It proved that live music is still alive and kicking on campus, and that the momentum established during the previous year hasn’t diminished. Hopefully, the excitement continues for the rest of the year and onward, with WDOM’s Tune In concert on Oct. 28 being the perfect way to test this.