There is a new band on campus and they only play one kinds of music: rock ‘n’ roll. At least that is what guitarist Joe Burns said before he and the band played under the lights of the Columbia Theatre stage Thursday night, March 13.
A dean of college, a department head and three professors formed a band called “Impaired Faculties,” with Burns on guitar and vocals, Ralph Wood on drums, Randy Settoon on base and vocals, Bill Robison on guitar and vocals and Dan McCarthy on keyboard and vocals.
“It was really Bill Robison’s idea,” explained McCarthy, dean of the College of Science and Technology. “He hatched an idea to get a bunch of people together. We originally had a bunch but we’re the only five that kept coming to the meetings, the last men standing. Then, we actually realized we play well together.”
The night was filled with the classic rock music that once enriched the 70s and 80s, but you did not have to be a part of this generation to recognize the songs. The band played legendary songs such as “Rock ‘n’ Roll All Night” by Kiss and “Life in the Fast Lane” by The Eagles.
“Most of it [the music] is because it’s our kind of generation. Most of us came up listening to the rock of the late 70s, early 80s. That’s what we kind of gravitated towards,” said Wood, a professor of health education. “We have some other stuff that is current, but you play what you came up with.”
Attendees response to the band demonstrated the evenings success. The performance ended with the band members receiving a standing ovation and demands for an encore from the audience.
“It was outstanding; you play music to entertain people and make them happy,” said Wood. “If they’re happy and entertained then we’ve done our job.”
The band was not only playing to entertain Thursday night. They were also raising money for the facility housing them, the Columbia. They explained that they wanted to contribute more to the arts and thought the theatre was a good cause.
“They were outstanding.” said Roy Blackwood, director of Columbia Theatre. “I have to protect the product that is Columbia so they had to reach a certain level of professionalism, and they met it.”