Students at Connecticut College are well-acquainted with the offbeat arts scene. Centered in New London, surrounded by nature and a liberal community and boasting impressive visual and performing arts departments, Connecticut College is finding itself ever more a part of a creative culture that’s sometimes grungy, and always exciting. This week, we feature one student group that is doing more than its part to expand this scene on campus, especially in terms of nightlife. Collier Gray ‘15 is the head of MOBROC, a musical students’ union on campus, and leading member of The Banditos, Conn’s most fun-loving country rock band.
I asked Gray to talk about his band, where they came from and what they have in mind for this year and beyond.
The Banditos is a group of close friends with the ability to improvise, work off of one another and sound good, while having so much fun that it spills beyond the stage and into the crowd.
Erik LaFrance ‘14 is on harmonica, ukelele, vocals and occasionally the box drum.
Toren Ballard ‘15 plays guitar, banjo and harmonica, and also sings.
Collier Gray ‘15, self-proclaimed “jack of all trades and master of none,” can be found on harmonica, banjo or vocals, but mainly sticks to lead guitar and rhythm.
Nate Wallace ‘14 is the most recent addition to the band, bringing with him a unique skill: fiddling. “It’s nice to have someone so competent,” said Gray of their highly trained member.
The name of the band, just like everything else about it, came out of a friendship. About two years ago, a good friend of Lafrance, Ballard and Gray had thought of calling their rugby team “The Banditos” in order to build a bigger party persona and a “cult personality.” After his graduation, the guys immortalized his presence at Conn with their band, which serves as a reminder of good times spent together.
The Banditos’ inception occurred only about a year ago. The members of the band, who were close friends long before then, had always enjoyed playing music together but never thought about it as anything more than “messing around. We didn’t think it was going anywhere,” says Gray. “But our first show was well-received… I guess we gave people what they wanted.”
One day, Gray was working at Harris when his friends came up to him and informed him of their first public show–that Thursday. “I had two days’ notice!” he remembers, but that spontaneity turned out to be central to his band’s image and success. “I guess other bands [on campus] didn’t have the same energy,” says Gray, who likes to think of himself and his band-mates as “crowd-pleasers. We have the right energy and presence.”
When I asked Gray about his band’s artistic vision, he explained their method of practice and songwriting. “It’s really organic. We write our songs, sometimes together, but usually one person writes them. And sometimes we do covers.” Once a song has been brought forward, the group starts working with it, playing off of one another until each person has written something for his own instrument(s). In essence, anything you hear from the Banditos has come from collaboration, creative insight and a lot of serious jam sessions.
It’s a philosophy that clearly works. The Banditos have already brought great things to campus just this year, especially at the September MOBROC show in Cro’s Nest. That show was a big step for the band. “We had no idea it was going to be such a good turnout,” says Gray. “We had so much fun.” Fun is what The Banditos are really about–not only is the band built around having fun, but they strive to bring that feeling to everyone on campus through their performances.
That’s what the future holds for the band, if all goes well: more shows and more people–these are the goals for the coming year. More chances to rock the entire campus and get “bigger, louder, rowdier… more fun,” as Gray puts it.
They would also like to have a little “clash of musical cultures” by teaming up with a cappella for a one-of-a-kind show. Conflicting with the classic a cappella scene, the collaboration would be a concert later at night with a “campus-safety-might-show-up kind of vibe…” The Banditos seem to like the idea of going so hard on their old-fashioned instruments that they might stir up trouble, and all they need to make it happen is a great crowd.
You can always catch the Banditos at smaller shows, too. MOBROC presents an open mic night every two or three Tuesdays (usually at Coffee Grounds) at which at least a couple members of the Banditos will contribute their music and “something’s always coming out of left field.” No matter which kind of concert you’re into, the guys make all their shows accessible and they definitely cater to Conn students’ idea of a good night. The Banditos want to contribute “a creative something … that everyone can enjoy.” Something that everyone will go to “just because it’s fun, it’s the best thing going on on campus … not because it’s a chore to go see your friends perform.”
Stay on the lookout for Gray and his friends creating bigger and better events with MOBROC and the Banditos. They’re a band with one of the most open and positive attitudes you’ll find on campus, an embodiment of everything our school is about. With the support and enthusiasm of the entire student body, the band is sure to deliver, making their next year on campus as awesome as possible.
