By Kelli DeWalt
Many new bands start out playing at dive bars, little hole-in-the-wall cafés and the infamous college campuses. This weekend, Styrofoam Junkies and Code Anchor will be performing at the University’s Coffee House, otherwise known as the Netherlands Café.
Styrofoam Junkies is an indie and pop rock band with a “dancey feel,” said Rich Nardo, the guitarist and keyboard player.
The band was formed in October 2006 as The Standoff but became known as the Styrofoam Junkies in May 2007.
The guys have known each other for years. Nardo and Steve Faig (vocals) went to Loyola College in Maryland where they played in a band. Ryan Arthur (guitar) has been a life-long friend of Faig. And Vinny Previti (drums), Ricky Cody (bass) and Nardo all grew up together in West Hempstead.
“Our music is very interactive,” Nardo said. “We’ve been compared to the Killers.”
The band members said they don’t want to see anyone sitting at their shows.
“We try our best to get everyone dancing,” Nardo said. “We want the crowed to feel no inhibitions.”
The band is currently touring throughout the Northeast and working on a couple of new songs. Their current five-track EP is titled “Guided by Speciner,” and available on sites such as iTunes and CDBaby.com.
Some bonds exist outside the boundaries of the band-Nardo and Cody started a clothing company, called Nevermore Apparel, in June 2006.
Students can expect to experience “high energy” from Code Anchor’s performance, said Dan Keller, the lead vocalist and guitarist.
Just like Styrofoam Junkies, they too like to get everyone dancing.
Code Anchor was created four years ago when the guys met at Commack High School on Long Island.
The band’s sound is a mix of rock, jazz, funk, latin, punk and everything in between. But, for the most part it’s rock.
“We take pride in our originality,” said Dan Keller, who provides lead vocals and plays guitar.
Code Anchor was originally a five-piece band but now it’s down to four. The members include Keller, Billy Burns (base and vocals), Ryan Schiff (guitar and vocals) and Scotty Zwang (drums and vocals).
Code Anchor won at the Long Island Goodtimes Music Festival in 2006.
Their current 5-track EP titled “Code Anchor” is “a splash of rock and punk with underlying, funky bass lines and crunchy guitars; these guys have something for everyone,” a review by Dan from Playgroundz.net said.
Currently, Code Anchor is working on its next album, “Tall Tales from the Moon” which Keller says will hopefully be out by the end of the year.
“Hofstra Concerts chose these specific bands to perform because they have a fun sound, awesome energy and have a bit of a different sound than your typical alternative/indie band out there right now,” said Erin McAndrew, the University’s Coffee House manager.
The performance is at the Netherlands Café on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m.-an hour earlier than other University Coffee House events. Admission is free.
(Code Anchor)
(Styrofoam Junkies)