It’s a fact that State College bands are cover bands.
It’s a fact that State College bars hire cover bands.
Café 210 needs to check the facts. Tonight it transforms into a venue for two bands — the Kalob Griffin Band (KGB) and the Dunnie Bobos — performing original pieces.
“Lackluster support for original music is one of Happy Valley’s few flaws,” said John Hendrickson, KGB drummer. “But our band has been very fortunate.” KGB has a good reputation with management at Café 210, which has helped them book this upcoming show.
KGB members say they are very grateful that the owner of Café 210, J.R. Morgen, is taking the chance in hosting two original bands on Friday night, instead of the usual cover bands.
“I think our latest event poster calls us ‘Whiskey Folk,’ ‘ Hendrickson said. “Our band touches on every genre from folk to blues to rock to retro country-western.”
KGB is a band right out of State College that started playing shows at house parties. Larger crowds were getting drawn to its shows, so the members decided to move onto the bar stage, attracting fans more than ever.
The Dunnie Bobos is a garage rock band from New York City coming to State College for the first time. James Armstrong, lead singer of The Dunnie Bobos, describes the band as rock and roll. It can be compared to early Velvet Underground “without the art snob following.” When it comes to cover bands, The Dunnie Bobos have a bit of a negative outlook.
“I mean if you wanna go see that outdated crap, fine,” Armstrong said. “Bands should write their own music that is what drives things forward.”
Tickets are $3 at the door. Hendrickson said the band had a sold-out show in January, so it is a possibility that the venue will fill.
