First Aid Productions (FAP) had a hard time finding a band to commit to coming to Northern this winter. Of all the possible bands they hoped to bring, among them Tokyo Police Club and the Fall of Troy, Rogue Wave has been on the list for years.
“We got them, we sunk our claws in, and we’re dragging them up here,” said Leon Katona, a junior biology major and production manager for FAP.
The concert, to be held in the Great Lakes Room at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, will also include We Love Cats, a local band, and Laarks, from Wisconsin.
“I am experiencing an extreme case of cabin fever,” said Katona, “and (Rogue Wave) is very sunny and California. I’m excited for it. It’s going to be a wonderful evening.”
Rogue Wave is a contemporary “indie” band that has achieved national recognition, most recently having played on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, March 22 to promote their newest album.
Jordan Buzzy, FAP president and senior sociology and photography major, described the music of Rogue Wave as “a little more progressive. Some of their stuff is straight rock, some of it is more ambient or spacious sounding, some people describe it as feel-good, some people say it’s more contemplative: it has a very open feel to it.”
The versatility and relative popularity of Rogue Wave is what Buzzy said is likely to bring audiences.
“The nice thing about our group and bands like this is that you may only recognize one song, but what a great opportunity to get to know a band when you can go in a personal setting and have a concert at your university,” Buzzy said.
Rogue Wave released a new CD, “Permalight,” earlier this month that a member of the band called “visceral” in a recent blog entry, saying that those who listen to it should “wear a good pair of shoes” because of its upbeat nature. Spin Magazine calls the album “a jarring, but refreshing, makeover,” from the former sound of the band.
Justine Koglin, a sophomore psychology major who has been listening to Rogue Wave for years, said that she really likes the band’s new album. Having been a long-time fan, she was excited to find out that they were coming to Northern.
“I thought it was really cool because it’s something different, it’s not mainstream, it’s something to expand people’s tastes in music, and I think it’s important to raise (a) band’s popularity. I just think it’s really exciting,” Koglin said.
Koglin recognizes that Rogue Wave isn’t well known but hopes those who enjoy the band will come out for the show.
“I think it’s going to bring a lot of people with good taste in music together,” Koglin said.
One of FAP’s missions is to bring bands that are lesser known, according to Katona, to fill in the vast category that is not filled by Northern Arts and Entertainment or the Hip Hop Coalition. Katona feels Rogue Wave fills that range well.
“I think they are almost mainstream,” Katona said. “They’re the band that people have heard of, but they don’t know they’ve heard of them.”
Buzzy hopes the community will come out to show their support for Rogue Wave because of the unique environment.
“It’s a matter of community,” Buzzy said. “Get together, hang out, there’s a lot of great people there. First Aid runs the show, so it’s not like you have hired out guards standing around watching you: it’s just your friends and fellow students. It’s a good opportunity to just get involved, have a good time, meet people and hang out with your friends.”
