By Devan Sticka (09/30/2018)
Rebellion, unexpected pregnancy, war, drug addiction and suicide are what make up the American Idiot. The scene is set for a city in present-day America with the debates of American politics. The visual scenes of the stage are set fastidiously with a rundown brick wall and emblematic graffiti painting the aftermath of the events going on. The music, however, is what pulls it all together. The band plays the iconic “American Idiot” album by punk rock band, Green Day, and bring the songs to life with an impeccable performance.
The band members include guitarists Cole Bettner and Brandon Carson, bassist Matt Laczynski, percussionists Bruno Cabrera and Jacob Gates, cellist Naomi Rockenbaugh and keyboardist Cody Ricks.
The band rehearsed together four times in two weeks before starting rehearsals with the cast. Working with the cast gave them an experience like no other.
“In the school settings, we are all either playing in like jazz ensembles, or jazz combos or orchestras in all of them,” Bruno Cabrera said. “Playing rock and roll, I do that in a band outside of school, but in school is very rare to get this opportunity.”
When the band was playing, you could see the passion fill the stage as they rocked out with the cast. Every note was exact and kept the energy alive for a cast who had to dance and sing with no intermission.
“Personally, for me, it’s a real powerful moment,” Matt Laczynski said. “When we get on stage, everything just kinda drops out and we, the band and the performers, have the time of our lives. So, getting up on stage is a really awesome thing.”
Cole Bettner has been involved with several different school productions, but nothing like “American Idiot.” With his few guitar solos, Bettner got to rock out with cast members.
“This is a unique experience, too, because, you know, I’ve been involved in some other productions before, but nothing has felt as like, immersive as this,” Cole Bettner said. “I feel like I’m playing with the cast and not just, like, in the pit.”
Bruno Cabrera echoed Bettner’s feelings.
“When we are in the pit, we are kind of separated, but now on stage, we are just interacting with them all the time,” said Cabrera. “So, it’s really good.”
The band members enjoyed being on stage with all the live action right in front of them and many opportunities to interact.
“This was, like, a very cool way to break away from the normal scene and come in. Like, nobody else gets to do this,” Laczynski said.
The cast and band composed one big group not just on the stage, but off the stage, too. The band felt like they were a part of the theater department family and were appreciated for all their hard work.
“The best part is that they’ve been so excited about us. So, like, we’ll walk into the green room and, like, they’ll be giving us high fives and hugs. It’s just like, I’ve never got that in any other thing that I’ve done,” Bettner said. “I feel like I’ve gotten a whole new circle of friends now.”
Keeping the energy alive for the cast was an easy and exciting task for the band.
“The theater people always have really good energy and they’re always happy to work with musicians, as well, which is really good to interact with them more in a closer way,” Cabrera said.
“American Idiot” was released by Green Day on September 21, 2004, three years after the 9/11 attack in New York City as people were still trying to recover with the massive loss of family members, friends or colleagues.
Bettner, Cabrera and Laczynski remember hearing the album for the first time around the ages ranging from 5 to 9 years-old. Picking up their instrument of choice, they all remember learning how to play songs from the album.
“The best part about doing ‘American Idiot’ is that I’ve known that album since I was like 9, 10 years-old,” Bettner said. “So, it’s like bringing it back to, like, my childhood a little bit and I have nothing but great memories about listening to that album as a kid. Now it’s, like, this is probably the best part of college I’ve experienced so far.”
The production does not have the songs played in the exact same way as the original album. Small changes had to be made to make it work with the actors and the production.
“There were certain parts in the show that had different key changes and parts that have, like, certain parts cut out that are on the original records,” Laczynski said. “It was really just getting the music down and learning the production side of it versus the original record.”
When rehearsals started, the fun began for these three band members.
“I think it all kind of locked in, like, when we really started rehearsing because, like both of these fine gentleman just said, as soon as that album came out when we were like five, six years-old, we started playing it. We started listening to it,” Laczynski said. “So, knowing that we got the part and we got to be a part of this amazing production, it was like bread and butter for us.”
It was an easy transition from the headphones to the practice session.
“I think all of us in the band, we’re already playing that album when it came out,” Cabrera said. “So, we got together, ‘Okay! We’re ready! We know all of this so let’s make the best of it.’”
After playing for a week and basking in the limelight, the band members do not want the production or the fun to end.
“We want to take this on the road,” Laczynski said.
The emotion translated to the audience was synonymous with the team effort on stage.
“I think everyone loved that so much that we want to do that again,” Cabrera said.
“This is my home. This is my city. This is my life.”
These are the final three lines leading into “Good Riddance” as the final full song of the musical as the cast members take their bow. Then finally, the band rocks out sending off the crowd.
“It’s just one big party,” Laczynski said.
A party enjoyed by all.
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