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KRIS HARRIS
Special to The Leader
’Twas the night before fall break, as many students many students were heading home to relax with their families. However that didn’t stop BJ’s from gathering a crowd on Oct. 7. Crazies and the Naturalists were ready to perform, and both gave a solid show to start of the weekend.
First up was Crazies, a hardcore punk band native to Fredonia. Its name perfectly describes the band’s presence on stage. Wild and spontaneous, the four piece brought high energy to the performance.
The band consists of Jimmy Skrzeczkowski, who will be a junior animation major next Spring, on Vocals, junior liberal arts major Nick Kobel on guitar, senior psychology major Dan Bonasera on bass and senior graphic design major Will Pihl on drums. The four were everywhere from the floor in front of the stage, to resting on speakers giving jaunty solos. They were all comfortable despite the fact that this was their first time playing BJ’s.
Skrzeczkowski often would tower over the audience, standing upon the railing on the stage, gripping the mic and giving powerful vocals.
Showgoers felt this powerful energy as a moshpit grew at the foot of the stage and went in and out over the course of the show.
This was actually Kobels’ First performance with Crazies, joining up with the band back in August. The addition seemed to be a perfect fit as Kobel easily played along with the band’s onstage antics.
An EP can be expected from the Crazies, hopefully on Halloween this month called “Slaughter Punk,” a follow up to their 2014 Batcave EP.
Everything done by Crazies is self-produced, with Skrzeczkowski taking the role of lead engineer.
“We want to do this right” said the lead singer, who bought a mixer and several mixes to improve the sound.
Commenting on the low-fidelity feel of the band’s last effort drummer Pihl said “we literally recorded that with one mic.”
“In a garage, a bedroom and another garage,” joked Bonasera.
Up next was the Naturalists, a grunge band from Buffalo. Calm and collected, the three-piece consisting of Craig Perno with vocals and guitar, Zach Russell on bass and Travis Perno on Drums, felt straight out of ’90s Seattle.
Before the show there was a little mishap , as the band missed the exit coming into Fredonia, but in the end The Naturalists made their set time and gave a excellent performance.
The Naturalists were not new to BJ’s as they have played BJ’s fest, a two day music showcase held by the bar, in the past.
Throughout their solid performance, there was plenty of crowd surfing and heandbanging. Early on in the set the band played their new single, “Fortune, Always Turning,” a song that might remind one of The Pixies.
The band currently cites Manchester Orchestra and Weezer’s Pinkerton as influences.
The whole project began between the Perno twins, just playing with random bands at the time. After a year and half, Russell came in the mix and since them it been working out perfectly.
The band has been busy lately, with its new EP, “Home Honey, I’m Hi” coming out this month on the 30th via Dadstache Records, a label out of Rochester.
The Naturalists enlisted the help of Paul Besch for the EP. Recording began in November of last year and went until February. On working with Besch, the band was extremely excited.
“We’re musical soulmates” said Russell.
In support of their EP, the Naturalists will be going on tour starting in November, going all over from Philadelphia, to the Carolinas, and reaching far south to Tennessee.
Remember to come on down to “The little place across the street” every other week to check out some of the bands coming through town. Next up are Buffalo Indie rockers Super American with Fredonia natives Kill the Clock.