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FeedMeet Breckenwood—a band on the rise
In Buffalo, small garage bands form all of the time for jam sessions. Some never move beyond just playing for fun, but one young group named Breckenwood already has a few performances in the works and a set list of both covers and originals.
So what’s so special about the two eighteen-year-olds and the nineteen-year-old who make up Breckenwood? “We feel we have a unique style that’s different from most other bands in Western New York,” says Micah Kokeny, nineteen, of Orchard Park.
That “unique style” is one of many things that sets the band apart. They’re not limited to one single genre, instead incorporating a range of music styles, from hard rock to pop and beyond. “We don't have just one type of band that we fashion ourselves after; we want to be new, and be different,” says Brian Ort, eighteen, of Rochester. The group says they aim to be accessible to all ages, not just teens or twenty-somethings.
Besides the various music styles, their personalities help define the sound. The chemistry between the three band members is noteworthy—they get along as if they have been together for years. This, they hope, keeps the band together for the long run. “Chemistry is definitely going to help us along the way,” says Garrett Shea, eighteen, of East Aurora. “We feel that since we can work together so well, this band is not going to be together for only a short time.”
As any Band 101 classmate knows, it’s important that each band member has a role—the clown, the organizer, etc. In Breckenwood, Micah is the unanimous choice for prankster. “It’s definitely, especially when you get a phone call during practice,” says Shea. “Not to mention his choice of hats.”
As for the role of manager, Shea seems to have that wrapped up. “Garrett is the one who keeps the band straight,” says Ort.
Of course, these details would be meaningless if the band didn’t have the talent to back it up. With two of the members able to play at least four instruments, each brings something fresh to the sound. Yet all of them have the same type of outlook for this band.
“Our past groups were more jam sessions,” says Kokeney. “In this band, we are more eager to get out and play.”
Breckenwood performs at Club Paradise on McKinley Parkway in Hamburg on Sunday, March 21. If you would like to check out their music right now, search for “Breckenwood” on either MySpace or Facebook. A website, merchandise, and debut album are in the works.
Lauren Binder is a senior at Canisius College, stage manager at the Main Street Cabaret, and assistant production manager at the Alleyway Theatre.
