Are you ready to rock?
We said, are you ready to ROCK?!?!
It's okay if you're not, because Graph is. They're a rock and roll trio from Keene about to kick off their summer tour down the East Coast and into the Midwest.
Are they stopping in Concord?
Nope.
So, why, you ask, are we writing about a Keene band that isn't even stopping in our beloved city?
Well, here's your answer: bass/keyboard player and percussionist Ry Amidon is a Concord resident and Matt Robidoux from Keene (guitar, vocals and pedals) works in Concord with Ry and his dad Rick at Amidon Lawn Care.
We don't know what the deal is with Graph's third band member, Andy Kivela, because he has no ties to the capital city and therefore we don't care about him.
Just kidding. Andy's from Sunderland, Mass, and plays drums and samples.
Matt says his band “seeks to present an original species of songs and sounds with experimental, post-hardcore, rock and classical constituent parts.”
We – not being very musically inclined – had no clue what that meant, but thought it sounded pretty cool and imagined that the members of Graph spent quite a bit of time coming up with such a intelligent-sounding band description. The Insiders have probably never used the word “constituent.” Kudos to you, Graph, for being smarter than us.
Hoping some of their advanced vocabulary would rub off on us, we visited their Myspace page and listened to a few of their tracks. Admittedly, although we still wouldn't be able to explain to you the type of music they play, we can confidently say that they're worth checking out. Graph keeps you hooked with both music and lyrics and provides something different than the mindless drivel played on the radio nowadays. We'd take listening to their song, “The Banquet,” over Lady Gaga's “Poker Face” any day.
Graph's tour begins at Moon Minion Haus, 123 Portland Ave., Dover, on July 10 at 8 p.m. and ends at Armadillo's Burritos, 82 Main St., Keene, on July 25 at 8 p.m.
Though Graph is not playing in Concord at this time, they hope to in the future. “We haven't purposely avoided Concord,” Matt insists. “Even though Ry and I spend a great deal of time there and have played there with other groups, a majority of our fanbase is in the Monadnock region.” Matt lists the Annicharico Theatre, Castro's Backroom and “anywhere outdoors” as venues he'd like to play here in Concord and adds that he is open to suggestions.
Perhaps you'll find them playing on the State House lawn someday. Asked if Gov. John Lynch would be a fan of Graph, Ry, the band's resident political science graduate, says “We are a weird band sometimes – maybe too weird for some in the State House – but I would hope Govenor Lynch would give us a chance and build a consensus in the Legislature and in the state around not only our music, but around all New Hampshire music, especially the music our young people are making in our public schools.”
Ry adds, “If if weren't for the Concord High orchestra program led by Ben Greene, I would not have the dedication to music that I do now. I encourage our governor to attend whatever local performances he can fit into his busy schedule.”
Whether or not Lynch attends Graph's latest performance, here's another reason you should – they are touring with AmPm (myspace.com/ampmband) – a band with all Concord natives. Ry insists they're “money.” That's cool-person lingo for “awesome.”
For more information on Graph, visit myspace.com/graphisaband or find their music on iTunes.
