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- Reading, writing, arithmetic, and OOBS backyard
shows... all essential factors for a complete Back
2 Skool experience. OOBS held the first annual
Back 2 School, Time 2 Learn Fest! on
September 5, 1998. This celebration of education included
live performances from The OOBS Drum Duo, Andrew
Yaros,soundsystemscheckOK, AM Carrier Current, and a
special guest appearance by everyones favorite
Chartiers Valley High School employee, Mr. Shortt!
- Andrew Yaros (member of The Hyperactive Ensemble) was
scheduled to perform first with a solo acoustic
guitar/vocals set. Due to excessive work in the lab, Mr.
Yaros was forced to show up late, so the drummers from
soundsystemscheckOK and AM Carrier Current decided to
form a band called The OOBS Drum Duo. Their
performance tied the crowd over until the
actual opening artist could make it to the show.
- Upon his arriving, Andrew arranged the equipment and
began his set in a matter of minutes. He performed a very
clean, melodic 30 minutes worth of acoustic guitar pop.
On a few of the numbers, Rob Crane (of the Hyperactive
Ensemble and the AM Carrier Current live unit) sat in on
drums. The crowd enjoyed the clever and catchy musical
stylings of Andrew Yaros while feasting on homemade
brownies from Mrs. Saporito. The crowd was ready to rock
and roll at this point, so it was time for
soundsystemscheckOK.
- SoundsystemscheckOK (a.k.a. The Systems) were the
next performers at Back 2 School, Time 2 Learn
Fest!" The End of the Skool Year Blowout was
the first show by The Systems that included
roboyouth-of-tomorrow-drummer, Jim Planetarium, but they
had not practiced a single time before that show. For
this Back2Skool Show, though, the soundsystemscheckOK had
transformed into a full time two man operation, and
therefore, this was the first real show by
The Systems with both certified
members. Their six song performance was, in a way, the
debut of a new soundsystemscheckOK, and it proved to be a
successful one. They amazed the crowd with a healthy dose
of noise rock. The vocal subdivision of The Systems was
not fully developed at this stage of progress, so all
songs performed were instrumental. Richard
Saporito(founder/leader of soundsystemscheckOK) jokingly
explained to the crowd that anyone who wished to provide
vocals could utilize the microphone. After some
motivation from crowd members, Brian Reiff, Fan of the
Year, accepted the challenge of vocal duties. Reiff
somewhat ruined a portion of The Systems set, and
he made himself look like a complete moron! Nice job
Reiff!
- Next up was the newly formed AM Carrier Current. AM
Carrier Current is a noise project in the ever expanding
world of Gregg Gillis. It was originated as a solo noise
effort by Gregg, but he drafted Rob Crane (who also drums
with Gregg in The Hyperactive Ensemble) to provide
percussion and non-beats. Originally planned
as a one song piece, AM Carrier Current broke their
performance up into a few separate improvisational
compositions. Microphones, running through foot pedals
and amplifiers controlled by Gregg, were placed
strategically around Robs drum set to provide
electronic impulse sounds. The drum sounds were not as
Gregg had planned, but it sounded fair with some effort.
As anticipated, AM Carrier Currents noise was not
able to hold the attention span of the crowd, but it
really didnt affect the musicians as they put forth
a stellar show. Rob had some difficulties grasping the
concept of impulse drumming, but his workings
behind the kit improved as the show progressed. Gregg
even demonstrated his abilities on the drums as he
provided some spasmodic percussion accompanied with
Robs piano playing. Overall, AM Carrier Current
achieved a somewhat free jazz style of
composition, as opposed to Greggs other
power-electronics noise works in The Joysticks.
- The conclusion of this showcase was most
entertaining, though, for numerous interest developing
events occurred. 1.) Jim Planetariums' friends initiated
a destructive array of numerous brands and models of
illegal fireworks. Richard even found himself getting
involved as the youngsters dared him to throw a lit
bomb-esque firework at a neighbor's household. 2.)
Towards the conclusion of AM Carrier Current's set the
5.0's made their appearance. It was pretty much full of
idle threats and "Turn it down"s, which only made the
OOBS artists take it more to the extreme. AM Carrier
Current extended their noise for a while longer as
Richard, Jim, and Mr. Shortt set up to play 3.) Mr.
Shortt's high school band's song, "Rat Patrol." The
cover went pretty well considering neither Jim nor
Richard had ever heard or played the song before. This
performance also signaled the cop's second appearance!
This time yielded a warning for a citation. Richard's
mother, Richard's mother's friends, and Richard's
grandmother had come out to see what was going on by this
point and they were more angered by the cops than the
noise. The issuing of a citation was not on their agenda
for the night, though, so after "Rat Patrol" the show met
it's conclusion. The pigs shut us down, but not before we
cleaned their clocks with massive amounts of noise and
rock!
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- Questions? Comments. OOBS
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