The Jarts prove their worth
By Rachel Hanes, Staff Writer
October 10, 2007 | 7 p.m.
Lyricalness, intimacy and envelopment: This is the stuff of which great rock shows are made. The Jarts, who have all these ingredients, will delight listeners at 9 p.m. Oct. 13 at Donkey Coffee and Espresso.
With humor and humility, lead singer Troy Gregorino, bassist Chris Pyle, drummer Bryan Gibson, cellist Ashley Ford and keyboardist Michael Rinaldi-Eichenberg know how to put on a show for The Jarts fans and new listeners alike.
The Jarts made their debut on Sept. 27 at The Front Room, giving a small preview of their upcoming shows around campus. After a set from Winter Makes Sailors, The Jarts showcased their intriguing, American-indie sound that didn’t fail to blanket listeners that night.
The Jarts draw their sound from many different musical genres, making it difficult to place them into any one musical category. Gregorino said he believes that the band’s sound has a bit of "a modern-rock aesthetic with maybe some remnants of acoustic folk.”
This is probably the most specific label one could give for the band.
This lack of a label in no way inhibits the band. Just recently hitting their one year anniversary, The Jarts pack a serious punch that does not give any clue as to how green they truly are. It is obvious that much devotion is put into the band, especially when considering how it came about.
After battling lung cancer, Gregorino was determined to recuperate and accomplish one of his dreams.
“One of the things that I was determined to do was to first come back to Athens and second, to start a band,” he said. “That has always been my vision.”
The group came together through a shared enthusiasm for the project, and soon enough, The Jarts converged, meeting and playing for the first time in 2006. This particular show (of which, Gregorino shared, there have only been 10) on Sept. 27 was also their first show at The Front Room. One of their haunts is Donkey on West Washington Street.
Chris Pyle, along with playing the bass and entertaining the audience during the shows, is the owner of the well-known and loved coffee shop. Along with delicious treats and a tranquil atmosphere, Donkey provides a venue for an Open Mic Night on Thursdays and a place to showcase bands such as The Jarts. “It kind of feels like home for me to play there,” Gibson said.
“We’ve always had a really good experience there, just with the dynamic of the band and the audience,” Gregorino said. “We feel privileged to get over there from time to time.” Despite this, Gregorino said, the group doesn’t want to become any kind of “house band” and is trying to perform shows at other local venues.
While the band is a realized dream for him, Gregorino is also attempting to help the Athens community. He is currently running for Athens City Council to get some things accomplished around the city.
“I feel like we are at a critical point in Athens history, especially with hillsides being depleted and overdevelopment,” he said. “Basically I’m running to give voice to the idea of keeping Athens as Athens.” As a person who worked so hard to get back to the renowned college town, it is no surprise that Gregorino wants to preserve its character.
Even so, by playing together, the band is doing its part in allowing Athens to hold on to another one of its characteristics: its music scene. With their growing résumé and a CD in the works, The Jarts add more color to the already ripened musical landscape around town. The band is hoping the CD will be out within the next few months and already have more shows lined up.
Despite the competition that surrounds them, The Jarts are sure to stand out among the rest. Their next show at Donkey will be one not to miss because of its intimate atmosphere and the expected chemistry between the band and its home stage. The group puts on a soothing and immensely enjoyable set, serving up powerful words, addictive melodies and a sound that is, to put it simply, indescribable.
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Visit The Jarts' MySpace page.