Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSophistafunk to appear at Westcott
By Olivia St. Denis
Posted: 11/5/09, 2:39 AM EST Section: News
IF YOU GO
What: Big Break Contest
Where: The Westcott Theater
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
How much: Free
The Syracuse band Sophistafunk will compete at The Westcott Theater as finalists in the Big Break Contest Friday at 7 p.m. The contest will be hosted by WSTM/CW6, a local cable and news channel.
Sophistafunk will face off against fellow local bands, Phantom Chemistry, Juice Break, Augustine and Gracious Sakes Alive, in a chance to win $1,000, recording time in a studio and a performance on CW6. Concert doors open at 6 p.m. Friday. Sophistafunk is set to perform around 10 p.m., and the winner will be announced at 12:30 a.m.
The Big Break Contest began in June with 50 local bands as a way to discover new talent in the local area, said Dan Mastronardi, the booking director for The Westcott Theater. "We wanted to give high school, college and older bands a chance to play the theater," he said. Sophistafunk, signed to Syracuse University-owned Marshall Street Records, formed in April 2007. The band is composed of keyboardist, beatboxer and singer Adam Gold, drummer Emanuel Washington and singer/lyricist Jack Brown. Gold and Brown both graduated from SU in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Gold is also the owner of the popular off-campus restaurant Funk 'n' Waffles.
It was at the restaurant that Sophistafunk got its start. Washington played at Funk 'n' Waffles with his old band, the Interstellar Funkateers. Gold joined the band onstage for an impromptu cameo, and the rest is history, Brown said.
The two began practicing together with Matty J., then a member of The Higher Concept, a band based in Staten Island, N.Y. Before leaving the band in August 2008, Matty J. introduced Brown to the group.
Now that the band has reached the final round of the Big Break Contest, Brown said he thinks the band's success is because of the connection it has with fans. "A lot of the contest ratings are based on turnout, and we've had insane turnouts that we weren't expecting," he said. "Our fans definitely have a large hand in our success."
Andrew Beyda, the co-general manager of Marshall Street Records, said he believes Sophistafunk's advancement in the contest means more than prize money and studio time - it means something to the Syracuse community.
"When you have a band from the community recognized like this, it's a connection you don't often see," Beyda said. "It's a connection from the Syracuse hill to the city, it brings the entire community together." omstdeni@syr.edu
What: Big Break Contest
Where: The Westcott Theater
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
How much: Free
The Syracuse band Sophistafunk will compete at The Westcott Theater as finalists in the Big Break Contest Friday at 7 p.m. The contest will be hosted by WSTM/CW6, a local cable and news channel.
Sophistafunk will face off against fellow local bands, Phantom Chemistry, Juice Break, Augustine and Gracious Sakes Alive, in a chance to win $1,000, recording time in a studio and a performance on CW6. Concert doors open at 6 p.m. Friday. Sophistafunk is set to perform around 10 p.m., and the winner will be announced at 12:30 a.m.
The Big Break Contest began in June with 50 local bands as a way to discover new talent in the local area, said Dan Mastronardi, the booking director for The Westcott Theater. "We wanted to give high school, college and older bands a chance to play the theater," he said. Sophistafunk, signed to Syracuse University-owned Marshall Street Records, formed in April 2007. The band is composed of keyboardist, beatboxer and singer Adam Gold, drummer Emanuel Washington and singer/lyricist Jack Brown. Gold and Brown both graduated from SU in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Gold is also the owner of the popular off-campus restaurant Funk 'n' Waffles.
It was at the restaurant that Sophistafunk got its start. Washington played at Funk 'n' Waffles with his old band, the Interstellar Funkateers. Gold joined the band onstage for an impromptu cameo, and the rest is history, Brown said.
The two began practicing together with Matty J., then a member of The Higher Concept, a band based in Staten Island, N.Y. Before leaving the band in August 2008, Matty J. introduced Brown to the group.
Now that the band has reached the final round of the Big Break Contest, Brown said he thinks the band's success is because of the connection it has with fans. "A lot of the contest ratings are based on turnout, and we've had insane turnouts that we weren't expecting," he said. "Our fans definitely have a large hand in our success."
Andrew Beyda, the co-general manager of Marshall Street Records, said he believes Sophistafunk's advancement in the contest means more than prize money and studio time - it means something to the Syracuse community.
"When you have a band from the community recognized like this, it's a connection you don't often see," Beyda said. "It's a connection from the Syracuse hill to the city, it brings the entire community together." omstdeni@syr.edu
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