Conn students are not the most likely of characters to encounter downtown. On some level, the fault lines of disconnection in our relationship with the New London community are mostly widened by our physical isolation, behind walls on a hill, but there is also a social isolation.
Like any relationship, the interaction between students and New Londoners often has rough patches. One such rough patch is the much higher and generally much scarier exposure to crime in the city. When Matt Potter, singer and guitarist of beloved New London band Fatal Film, encountered a group of six malicious hoodlums who proceeded to beat him horribly and savagely into a hospital, Conn students who heard about it generally saw that as a reason not to go downtown.
But we turned it around.
It’s a testament to the unity of the New London music scene that the reaction was not merely sympathy but instead positive action. Sean Murray, manager of the Oasis Pub on Bank Street, immediately cleared his bar’s weekend schedule and threw a benefit for his exorbitant hospital and prescription bills.
It’s a testament to the fundamental decency of Conn students that a solid number headed downtown to attend, and that others decided to donate even if they couldn’t actually go to the show.
The first night of music featured Conn professors David Dorfman and Gabe Chandler’s hip hop group, Above/Below, in addition to the entirely student band Mercutio alongside New London scene fixtures Straight to VHS and Dorian James & the Brood. Saturday’s lineup includes Potter’s bandmate throwing a presumably sick DJ set and former FNL performers The Paul Brockett Roadshow Band.
As of Saturday afternoon, the benefit had already generated over $1,000 for Potter, thanks to donations from New London businesses in the form of both money and raffle prizes, as well as the generosity of New Londoners and involved Camels.
Bobby Crash, the drummer for Dorian James & the Brood, was impressed with Oasis’ attempts to help out a friend in need.
“This is what a music scene should always be about,” said Crash. “Music is people coming together; it’s not about major labels and getting signed or whatever. You can do everything without a huge investment and it’s this – it’s going out and playing shows; it’s going to shows – that’s going to change the world.”
Sean Murray also praised the scene’s response. “This year alone I’ve seen more unity in this music scene than I’ve ever seen since I became a part of this and I’m very proud of that fact,” said Murray, who also organizes the I AM Festival every September.
A fresh toast to Potter’s health and recovery heralded every new set, and every band played as if they could manifest his healing in the pure intensity of their rock moves and rap lyrics. Here’s the thing: they could.
Matt Potter’s bones weren’t the only thing on the mend this weekend. Although a rough event like the attack can be abrasive to the relationship between our school and our city, its roughness is sandpaper: it shapes and polishes our solidarity into refined and beautiful smoothness.
By pitching in, both students and New Londoners find themselves with more in common through their mutual generosity toward Potter. We can accept the reality of violent crime and move past it; we can reach out rather than shying away.
