Common Grounds starts semester with student music

The Campus Activities Committee planned many events at the Common Grounds last week to welcome students back to EMU. Capping off the week on Friday night was a concert by popular student band Shapiro.

The crowd, which was a mix of EMU students and local youth, piled in early to ensure standing room in the coffeehouse. Although it was cold outside that night, the Common Grounds soon became a hot and sweaty venue. The small room was filled to capacity as the crowd awaited the heavily lauded band to start the show.

Shapiro was excited to help CAC start the semester off with a bang. "It was a fun evening. We always enjoy playing at Eastern Mennonite. There are a lot of familiar faces. Good time," said Shapiro frontman and EMU senior Jeremy Teter.

The band did not leave the crowd disappointed. "Friday's Shapiro concert was great," said freshman Rachel Clemmer. "They are such a fun band to see live because they feel their music. You know they are doing something that they love."

Shapiro, formed in 2003, is Teter on piano and vocals, John Granofsky on drums and background vocals, Carl Shapiro on bass, and Nathan Granofsky on guitar and background vocals. EMU students might recognize Nathan from the Royals Den where he works. Teter is the only EMU student in the band.

Shapiro's fan base reaches beyond the Valley and many of their performances our outside of Harrisonburg. The band has upcoming shows in Norfolk, Blacksburg, Fredericksburg, and Vinton, Va., and Dover, Del. Although the band's success is increasing with their rapidly growing amount of gigs across this geographically diverse spectrum, Teter says the band hopes to play again in Harrisonburg before the end of the semester. Information on Shapiro can be found at www.shapiropeople.com or www.myspace.com/shapiro.

Opening for the band on Saturday was senior Andrew Intagliata. Intagliata is the bassist and vocalist for another student band, Highways and Oceanshores. For the opening act, Intagliata did not have his band to back him up as he strummed an acoustic guitar and sang four songs, including a cover of a song by The Format. "I was asked to play a couple days before the event and I was excited about it because I hadn't done any solo concerts in a while," Intagliata said. "However, playing solo can be nerve-wracking for the most experienced musicians. I was honestly a little nervous because there was such a large turnout but was glad to see so many people there to see Shapiro at the same time, because they are one of my favorite bands."

Intagliata can be seen playing with Highways and Oceanshores around the Harrisonburg area frequently. Information can be found on the band's website at www.highwaysandoceanshores.com or at www.myspace.com/highwaysandoceanshores.