Campus band E.G.G. cracks onto the Drake music scene

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Campus band E.G.G. cracks onto the Drake music scene

By ERIKA SEVIGNY on November 18 2009

For many students, bonding with friends takes place in the

residence halls over an intense round of video games or at the

Bell Center squaring off in a pick-up game of basketball. For the

Drake students in the band E.G.G., friendship and family develop

over a shared passion: music.

For first-year Ben Mogerman on bass, sophomore guitarist

Ben Chappel, junior drummer Sam Mogerman and junior Luke

Dawson on vocals, rhythm guitar and piano blend close friendship

with family ties and shared passions.

“In my experience growing up, playing music was a thing to

do to get people together,” Sam said. ”For me, whether its going

to shows together, or just jamming in somebody’s basement, it has

always been music that brings people together.”

E.G.G.’s next performance is at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21

at the House of Bricks, along with Des Moines band the Atudes.

The show is appropriate for all ages, and charges a $5 admission

fee.

“There’s really no one you can be closer to than your bandmates,”

Dawson said. “It’s been that way every band I’ve been

in.”

E.G.G.’s music is influenced by a number of groups and music

genres, including Motion City Soundtrack, Muse, The Fray,

Relient K, The Rocket Summer, The Mars Volta, Maroon 5 and

Jamiroquai. The band members classify their sound as “electric,

progressive, indie-rock.”

Dawson wrote the lyrics for the band’s eight original songs.

“I like to drive around in the car, listen to great music and

get inspired,” Dawson said. “I find inspiration in a number of

places.”

Dawson used the book of Genesis as a reference for E.G.G.’s

song, “Fall of Man.”

“Though the song isn’t religiously affiliated, it was a powerful

place to gain inspiration,” Dawson said.

E.G.G. formed just over three months ago. The acronym

“E.G.G.” currently stands for nothing, as members continue to

define who they are as musicians. They began performing for audiences

this fall, with their first performance at the U.G.A.N.D.A.

Youth Concert on Oct. 7. Since then, the group has played gigs

at the Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, and The Industry in Iowa

City.

“I love performing, especially when the audience is into it,”

said Sam. He acknowledged the band is still getting used to playing

in front of a crowd. “It has been a little awkward at times, but

I think we’re constantly improving.”

Sam said the band records every show and listens to it afterward,

to see where they need improvement.

E.G.G.’s songs are available for your listening pleasure on

their Myspace page.

“At the end of the day, we’re just volunteering our time to

something we love,” Dawson said. “We certainly don’t make any

money doing this, so it’s all about the passion, expression and

friendship for me.”

For many students, bonding with friends takes place in the residence halls over an intense round of video games or at the Bell Center squaring off in a pick-up game of basketball. For the Drake students in the band E.G.G., friendship and family develop over a shared passion: music.

For first-year Ben Mogerman on bass, sophomore guitarist Ben Chappel, junior drummer Sam Mogerman and junior Luke Dawson on vocals, rhythm guitar and piano blend close friendship with family ties and shared passions.

“In my experience growing up, playing music was a thing to do to get people together,” Sam said. ”For me, whether its going to shows together, or just jamming in somebody’s basement, it has always been music that brings people together.”

E.G.G.’s next performance is at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the House of Bricks, along with Des Moines band the Atudes. The show is appropriate for all ages, and charges a $5 admission fee.

“There’s really no one you can be closer to than your bandmates,” Dawson said. “It’s been that way every band I’ve been in.”

E.G.G.’s music is influenced by a number of groups and music genres, including Motion City Soundtrack, Muse, The Fray, Relient K, The Rocket Summer, The Mars Volta, Maroon 5 and Jamiroquai. The band members classify their sound as “electric, progressive, indie-rock.”

Dawson wrote the lyrics for the band’s eight original songs.

“I like to drive around in the car, listen to great music and get inspired,” Dawson said. “I find inspiration in a number of places.”

Dawson used the book of Genesis as a reference for E.G.G.’s song, “Fall of Man.”

“Though the song isn’t religiously affiliated, it was a powerful place to gain inspiration,” Dawson said.

E.G.G. formed just over three months ago. The acronym “E.G.G.” currently stands for nothing, as members continue to define who they are as musicians. They began performing for audiences this fall, with their first performance at the U.G.A.N.D.A. Youth Concert on Oct. 7. Since then, the group has played gigs at the Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, and The Industry in Iowa City.

“I love performing, especially when the audience is into it,” said Sam. He acknowledged the band is still getting used to playing in front of a crowd. “It has been a little awkward at times, but I think we’re constantly improving.”

Sam said the band records every show and listens to it afterward, to see where they need improvement.

E.G.G.’s songs are available for your listening pleasure on their Myspace page.

“At the end of the day, we’re just volunteering our time to something we love,” Dawson said. “We certainly don’t make any money doing this, so it’s all about the passion, expression and friendship for me.”