Citizen Monkey Band
“We will plug in, crank up, hit hard, and jam down on some of the finest selections of rock and roll known to the human race." The "Time 2 Rock" class, a Winter Week of Wisdom and Wonder (WWOWW) '24 course, was described in no uncertain terms. The course was going to deliver an electrifying experience, and students were encouraged to come prepared for an unforgettable week. During the WWOWW showcase the students in the course delivered a performance that got to the heart of WWOWW.
The students spent three days debating classic tunes, improvising on chord progressions, and digging into "the pocket." Students collaborated and chose to work on one seminal classic rock song, "White Room" by Cream. While vamping and grooving and jamming together, students dove into many aspects of the rock star persona. Beyond studying music, the students made themselves projects of style. In the end, the nuanced decision to wear sunglasses in a basketball gym highlighted the poise and humor these students wove together.
A staple Miller School tradition, WWOWW week this year consisted of three two-hour sessions for the Time 2 Rock band, who named themselves Kustard, at the last moment. Working tirelessly for three afternoons, they made the most of every minute and practiced new habits necessary for efficient rock and roll, in tune and on time. Their performance in front of the entire school awoke a sense of seasoned professionals, sparking members of the audience to say, "It really felt like a rock show, I mean it really did!". Kustard 24 delivered a performance that brought everyone together, dancing and singing along. Alumni Gym turned into a bona fide daytime rock 'n' roll venue.
This course exemplifies the essence of WWOWW, to ignite new passions and amplify existing ones. And it did just that.
Inspired partly by the positive experience of the course, Charles Carrier, Nico Rodi, and Leo Crisler formed Citizen Monkey Band and began performing at local Charlottesville music venues Rapture and Batesville Store. They also performed at the school’s opening picnic for all students and families.
Charles Carrier described the early days of the band: “So far we only play covers, but we’re working on writing some originals by recording our practice sessions and listening back to the improvised sections. This summer, we’re hoping to get some more gigs first at Rapture and the Batesville market, as well as expand our repertoire.”
For these musical Mavericks, there will be plenty of time to rock on campus and plenty of support from teachers and mentors at MSA.