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.

Keep Calm and Rock On

by John Downey '23 on September 8, 2022
A&E Co-Editor

Arts & Entertainment

A Call to Arms (Instruments) for Providence College Students

Last year, something glorious happened at Providence College: a music scene began to emerge.

After a large drought during which WDOM’s Stuartstock disappeared for several years and the number of bands on campus was at an all-time low, student musicians came together and formed groups. Concerts happened at The MET in Pawtucket, RI as well as on campus, and for a moment, new music blossomed at PC.

However, with some musicians graduating and others going abroad, it appears that the short-lived music renaissance has taken a blow.

What is to become of the concerts at McPhail’s? Will live music still ring out at the events hosted for each class? Last year, the student body was more receptive to live music than ever before, with concerts packed with enthusiastic revelers. Is it possible to reach these heights again?

The answer to this question is yes.

Now that live music has revealed itself as a dominant force on campus, the chances of it going away are slim. Despite the semester not even being a month old, there have already been instances of live music at PC. For example, St. Joe and the Dorms, a wild party band that has been rocking PC since 2021, took the stage at McPhail’s during casino night and tore the roof off the building with high octane covers of classic songs. Two of the members even suffered injuries during the crazy two-hour concert. The next day, Timeless, another band featuring members of the PC community, serenaded Eaton Street with well-known hits for hours.

There is also an entirely new group of potential musicians that have moved onto campus: the Class of 2026. Many of these students most likely play instruments, but not all of them know of the opportunities that are present for musicians here at PC. The best advice for these people is that there is no time like the present. Seriously.

With students responding so positively to live music in the past year, as well as the unveiling of the new music technology and production major, PC is embracing music more and more, which is fantastic to see. However, this can only continue as long as people are taking advantage of what is in front of them. Talk to musicians at events. Jam with people in Smith Center for the Arts. Write and perform music. Music is a universal language, and it is one that PC is just starting to become literate in.

PC’s Pep Band is probably the biggest example of music bringing people together on campus. Their powerful renditions of hit songs get everyone excited at sporting events, including the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. If you are a musician looking to get involved at PC, the Pep Band is the perfect place to start, particularly if you play a low brass instrument such as trombone. The atmosphere at games is electric, and you’ll have the best seats in the house!

Music is one of PC’s hidden gems, and if you want to take part in it, the perfect time to start is now.