Backyard “Midsummer Disco” of Greeley students and grads

Ben Factor, “Boy Genius”; photos by Walter Pearce; more in “Read more…”
Monday, August 6, 2012
by Jill L. Klein

Last Friday evening, kids gathered at the home of Greeley junior Walter Pearce to hear fellow student and alumni musicians and poets.  The night opened with a performance by Ben Factor, who performs under the name “Boy Genius.”

Factor is a rising Greeley senior who has been involved with music since he learned to play the guitar at age eight. He began writing songs after parting ways with the bands he performed with in middle school. He classifies his sound as “rock with a little bit of pop and blues,” and is influenced by The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Beetles, and The Black Keys. He hopes to eventually record and release an album. Visit soundcloud.com/benefactor for a sampling of Factor’s work.

The next performance was given by Alex Greenzeig, a rising freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he will be earning a dual degree in vocal performance and liberal arts. Greenzeig has been involved with the music scene since age two, when he started “drummin’ on pots and pans.” While he is interested in a wide range of music, his current act is mainly comprised of acoustic songs. “On the album I’m working on I’ll be playing guitar, bass, drums, piano and singing,” he said. Greenzeig released an EP last summer and is currently working on his first album, which Factor will produce and engineer. Visit www.zeig.bandcamp.com for a sampling of his work.

Jake Cheriff

Rising NYU freshman Jake Cheriff, A.K.A. “Modern Diet,” followed Greenzeig, with a selection of music he classifies as “Indie R&B.” Cheriff’s favorite aspect of music is song writing, and he plans to study music technology in college. Visit www.facebook.com/moderndiet for a sampling of his work.

Chris Ethridge

The next performer was Chris Ethridge, A.K.A. “Dolls.” Ethridge is a 2011 Greeley graduate who refers to his music as a combination of “electronic synth and alternative pop.” He released his first album, “Flowers,” on the day of the concert, and plans to produce another one within the next six months. “I like how when you’re producing music, you’re able to create exactly what you want to hear in that moment” he said. Visit www.dolls.bandcamp.com for a sampling of his work.

Gordon Seltzer

Greeley ’11 Gordon Seltzer, A.K.A “Clubb Soda,” performed next. He makes hip hop music, and enjoys listening to his songs once they’re finished. “Making music isn’t always fun – it can be extremely frustrating, but when you make something right and you listen back to it, it’s a really great feeling” he said. Visit www.clubbsoda.bandcamp.com for a sampling of Seltzer’s work.

Dan Krakaur

Greeley ’12 Dan Krakaur, A.K.A. “In Corners,” was the sixth performer of the night. Krakaur makes “experimental electronic music with guitars,” and has been producing music for the past three years. He has produced four albums and an EP thus far. “I hated what I wrote at first,” he said. “But then I started to use the recording process as a tool, and ever since then, I’ve recorded numerous albums just practicing. There’s been a huge progression in my music since I started out.” Krakaur will be attending Purchase College for studio production, and hopes to “continue making art without compromise.” Visit www.incorners.bandcamp.com for a sampling of his work.

Johnny Shankman

The concert concluded with a performance by 2011 alum Johnny Shankman as “The White Lights.” Shankman is currently pursuing jazz studies at NYU Steinhardt. He’s been creating music officially since last summer, when he produced his first EP. However, his dissatisfaction with the product led him to devote a year to recreating his sound. Shankman refers to his music as a combination of “Indie and R&B, Flying Lotus-meets-Drake, and post-Myspace generation.” He feels that his biggest challenge is classifying his sound. “I’m trying so hard to be unique, so I’d almost be disappointed if my sound could be easily classified,” he said. Shankman’s next nine-song album will release during the first week of September. He’s currently working on two music videos, and plans to spend the next year gigging around NYC. Visit www.white-lights.net for a sampling of his work.

Read about the how and why of the Midsummer Disco in “Greeley students gather for a concert featuring nine local student artists,” by Jill L. Klein, NCNOW.org, today’s edition.

Jill L. Klein is a 2012 Greeley graduate who is headed for Barnard College this fall. She is the founder of The Quake and a former New York Daily News intern.