Dismantling the DiVide

It is a frustratingly frequent observation ‘round here at The Declaration that there is an unusual divide between local Charlottesville culture and that of the University. To see the dilemma in full-scale, consider the fact that though there are 12,000 undergraduates here during the winter, and it makes little difference to show turnout whether the event occurs during the academic year or outside of it. It seems to me, sometimes, that it has become part of our unofficial mission to connect the University to downtown. Thankfully, we are not the only force working towards this end. There are a whole slew of U.Va. students who not only participate in the Charlottesville music scene, but are actually part of it. The following are some of our favorite U.Va. affiliated artists who frequently play around town.

Andrew Cedermark
After graduation, U.Va. and Declaration alumnus Andrew Cedermark toured briefly with shoegaze buzz-band Titus Andronicus. This summer, a little less than a year after leaving town, Cedermark quit Titus Andronicus, returned to Charlottesville, and started playing his own music at local venues. His songs, always soaked with reverb, distortion, and experimentation, somehow still remain catchy, relevant and overall fantastic listening. And, as he was featured on Pitchfork’s Forkcast and is currently scheduled to open for artists like Real Estate, we are clearly not the only ones who think he is great. His next show in Charlottesville, now with a full band, will be October 15th.

The Hill and Wood
It is undeniable that Sam Bush, co-founder of local venue The Garage, frontman for The Hill and Wood, and U.Va. graduate, is a fantastic songwriter. The Hill and Wood’s songs are filled with captivating melodies, precise and beautiful harmonies, gentle acoustic countermelodies, and lyrics that could not match the whole aesthetic better. I recently stumbled upon YouTube videos of them performing at WNRN and was blown away. These guys play around town less than some of the other bands mentioned, but it would be a treat to see them live, so keep an eye out.

Tyger & The Lamb
Fronted by recent U.Va. graduate Jason Farr, The Tyger & the Lamb are a five piece alt-country influenced band that you will find frequently playing shows around Charlottesville. Farr’s contemplative-but-still-poppy songwriting is enhanced by the always fleshed-out lineup and clever arrangements. Though they recently lost a bassist, it seems they plan to continue playing, with a show scheduled for late October.

Bear War
Bear War is a two-piece electro-pop outfit consisting of U.Va. fourth-year Stephen Walthall and recent graduate Pete Nagraj. Started this summer, Bear War has already made quite an impression. They’ve played four shows already and have been cited by local booker and promoter Jacob Wolf as playing one of his favorite debut shows.

Your Spirit Animal in the Unreal City
Specializing in experimentation and sonic exploration, Your Spirit Animal in the Unreal City is the only band on this list that features exclusively U.Va. students. Though current fourth-year music major Max Dreyer and recent graduate Philip Collender write songs which I would call fantasy/rock/experimental, it is self-described as sounding like, “the flapping wings of a thousand cranes,” or “the sweat of a squirming paper myrmidon.” Dreyer, who hails from Charlottesville, was part of then-local-favorites Love Tentacle Drip Society in high school, who were also known for their own bizarre brand of experimental rock.

St. Gods
Started last year as the full-band incarnation of fourth-year Caleb L’Etoile’s songwriting ventures, St. Gods is more a collective of musicians than a regular band. At times performing with as many as six musicians and at times as few as two, seeing St. God’s always promises an interesting show. Arrangement is straightforward but powerful and L’Etoile’s songwriting is always good. The outfit’s first few songs were actually written as part of a songwriting class L’Etoile took at U.Va. St. Gods Hospital will play in Charlottesville next on September 20th.