One might think it odd to find a group of students wearing fake moustaches moving like maniacs under the control of a pulsating bass line. But this scene was normal at the semester’s first Rock Yo Face Case.

On Sept. 27, the University Café, UCafe, hosted three bands including The Indecisive Few, Black Taxi, and Breathing East for the kick off of the biweekly concert series. The three bands attracted different crowds of colorful and enthusiastic fans, and the room was full until the music slowed and the night came to a close.

The Indecisive Few, who played Rock Yo Face Case for the second time on Monday, came into existence two years ago when a few “friends jamming” decided to make a band.  Perhaps the most mesmerizing member is the violist and keyboardist, Spencer Thomas, who played a black electric viola with a concentration so intense, that the audience seemed instantly captivated.

It was easy to see that every band member had a different type of appeal to the audience.  When the band wanted the audience to clap one single time in unison, for example, each band member offered an analogy for what the clap should sound like.

“Like a giant breaking a twig.” “Like a gnome breaking a twig.” “Like a turtle and a branch.”

These were the three illustrative expressions volunteered by different band members, including Christopher Reed, lead vocalist and guitarist, Vin Calandrino, bassist, and Anthony Tricarichi, drummer.

“I think that Rock Yo Face Case is a great opportunity for campus bands to get together and show what they’ve got,” Reed said. “It’s a great way to network with people in the music biz on Long Island, and it’s a really good time.”

Black Taxi, the next act hailing from Brooklyn, New York, also played Rock Yo Face Case for their second time that night.  The band, which has been together for three years, has played numerous venues including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Connecticut. The band formed when Ezra Huleatt, vocalist and instrumentalist, met bass player, Krisana Sopongpong, in Thailand shortly after Huleattt left his old band.

Black Taxi has a great deal of experience performing, and playing music.  Their musical sound is highly developed and was appreciated by many in the crowd. The band also includes Bill Mayo, guitarist and backup vocalist, and Jason Holmes, drummer and backup vocalist.  The band has an extensive fan base and is now preparing for their first full national West-coast tour after they perform at the CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival later this month.

“Crowd participation is amazing here,” said Huleatt.  “People are really into it, and there’s a good energy. “

“It’s refreshing just getting out of the city. It’s very organic.  I’ve never had a bad time here,” he added.

Breathing East closed out the night. The band says its biggest fan base right now is at Stony Brook. The band started to take form when lead vocalist AJ MacIntyre, guitarist Mark Standish and  drummer Conor Harrigan, played together throughout their high school and college careers.  Eventually, William Stevens was introduced to MacIntyre through a mutual friend and he auditioned to become the bassist and final member of the band.

During their performance on Monday, the band’s enthusiasm was contagious, and it grabbed the audience from the very first song.  The band has been together for about two years now, and from their performance, it’s easy to see that its members sincerely love to play music.  For this reason, they are able to not only grab the attention of an audience, but to really make the audience feel as if they are a part of the performance.

“I always wanted to play music and I just have mad fun with it,” said Stevens, a social welfare student at Stony Brook. “I just have a great time…we love playing here any chance we get.”

The event was a huge success.  A mass of students trudged through rain puddles to come to the UCafe to watch, and with different fans coming and going at different times, everyone in attendance was totally enveloped in the event.  When the event ended, and the moustaches came off, there was a certain sense of disappointment in the room because people were not ready to leave just yet.

The next Rock Yo Face Case is on Monday, Oct.11th.