FaSt is ready to graduate from the Sweet Briar College music scene to local stages.
The band whose members are otherwise gainfully employed on SBC’s faculty and staff — hence the name — will make its off-campus debut at Rebec After Hours at 5 p.m. on July 27 at the Amherst County winery. Rebec Vineyards also hired the group to perform at its Thirsty Thursday event at 5 p.m. on Aug. 2, and during both days of the Garlic Festival in October.
FaSt members Steve Wassell (from left), Tom Marcais, Rob Granger, Mark Magruder and Adam White all work on the faculty and staff at Sweet Briar College. Photo by Pat Richeson.With the first two gigs just around the corner, the band taped a promotional appearance on WSET's "Living in the Heart of Virginia" hosted by Tab O'Neal. The show will air on channel 13 at 12:30 Friday, July 20.
The band’s repertoire is a varied but popular mix of rock genres, blues, folk and country. Recently they worked on getting down a rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” while their roughly 20-song set already includes covers such as “I Walk the Line,” Woody Guthrie’s “Nine Hundred Miles” and “Dear Prudence” by the Beatles.
FaSt formed last winter for the College’s faculty show — a night of general hilarity meant to spoof students and popular culture for the amusement of the entire campus community. Soon SBC chaplain and lead guitarist Adam White suggested opening at the student-organized Battle of the Bands fund-raiser.
Next thing you know, dance professor Mark Magruder, who plays bass guitar, harmonica and sax on various songs, was signing them up for the Rebec shows.
“So we kept meeting,” professor of chemistry Rob Granger said of FaSt’s evolution. “It was unintentional, but one of those nice things that just happened.”
Well. Are they ready? Magruder admitted to a “holy bleep” moment, but it’s passed since they’ve been working in some consistent practices around busy schedules. During a recent session, Steve Wassell, math professor at SBC, took some good-natured ribbing for his stage fright. He wasn’t biting, though.
“When we sound good I’m not afraid on stage,” he said. “It’s when we don’t sound good that I have stage fright.”
Although nearly all the band members sing on some of the covers, Granger and Wassell handle most of the vocals. They both also contribute on rhythm guitar, and respectively on banjo and bass guitar.
Drummer Tom Marcais is the most classically trained musician of the bunch and performs professionally outside the group, albeit in different milieus. He plays with the Lynchburg College Wind Symphony, is a regular pit musician for local theatrical performances, and has played with area orchestras and concert choirs.
“I’m used to playing in more of an orchestral setting,” Marcais, a trainer and consultant in SBC’s academic computing department, said. “I usually play a variety of percussion instruments like the timpani, xylophone, marimba, etc. Playing the [trap] set is a completely different skill, and one that I’m glad to have the opportunity to develop further.”
Admission to Rebec After Hours on July 27 is $5, $7 if you wish to taste wines. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free. Admission is free for Thirsty Thursday on Aug. 2, but wine tastings cost $2.
For information about Rebec’s 17th annual Garlic Festival, visit the Web site at
http://www.rebecwinery.com/vwgf/vwgf.htm.
For more information about these events, call the winery at (434) 946-5168.
— By
Jennifer McManamay,
SBC staff writer
