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Band profile: Villanova

By Kristin Day
mixer

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

At the City Bistro last month, Villanova drummer Jeremy Roberson began his second drum solo by placing a black-and-red blindfold over his eyes. Still chewing on a toothpick, he showed them all why people call him “Mr. Finesse.” Meanwhile, most of the Saturday-night crowd encircled the stage snapping pictures and capturing video for later YouTube and MySpace viewings.

“I drove four hours to see this band,” a man with a thick southern accent called out, obviously louder than he thought, as the volume diminished and Roberson lightly tapped his kit.

“I can see why,” another man hollered back.

And the four-member band has been driving a lot themselves lately.

Since they released their first record, “Make Noise,” last year, they've been performing all over the South, playing showcases, and making their way to the North.

“It's pretty much all you wanna do when you're a musician,” frontman Brian Conner said before the show. They've played Greenville a few times at Unk's since 2007, but this was their first break into the Bistro, to celebrate a friend's birthday. They'll return to Unk's on June 19.

Conner, in his 20s, said he's been trying to put the perfect band together since high school. And even when they all got together a few years ago, most of them were involved in other musical projects: DJ Able One had only played hip-hop, bassist Bobby Dredd has a funk/rock/reggae side project called Deja VooDoo and Roberson was in several bands a few years ago. These days, he's limited his obligations to Villanova and playing with jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.

“I had to slow down,” Roberson said. “I started passing out — literally.”

They all say their main focus is Villanova, who's style can be described as rock infused with some funk, jazz and hip-hop.

“Musically, we all feel different things and we're all inspired by different stuff,” Conner said. “Lyrically, it's emotions; everyone's different ones.”

Their fans are always ready for a show interspersed with tricks and flash, like Roberson's drumming blindfolded or Conner playing his guitar behind his head. They want to be sure to give fans something other than an exact replica of their CD.

“You're going to get an electrifying live show,” Dredd said.

For now, as they travel up North, they'll continue working on their second album and sifting through interested record labels.

But aside from special shows — like playing for 100,000 people on St. Patrick's Day or the sold out show on New Year's — Bobby says it's difficult to pinpoint a “greatest” moment in music.

“Just anytime we touch the stage,” Roberson offered.

“The original shows were just with friends and family,” Conner added about the band's fanbase. “Then all of a sudden these people are mouthing our words and, for me, that's a great moment.”

Contact Kristin Day at kday@coxnc.com or (252) 329-9579.