My Beloved Tragedy, with their R&B-sounding vocals and overall “Indie” feel, might not be your average college-rock band.
The band just released its first E.P. titled “This Changes Everything,” a change from just singing out of a karaoke machine this past September. Last Friday they headlined a show at Scarlet & Grey Café and they are already craving more.
“The band has a very soulful rock sound, which really sets them apart from most bands in the local scene.”
The band, based out of Columbus, is comprised of lead vocalist Jeff McCants, rhythm guitarist and background vocalist Anthony Dillard, bass guitarist and background vocalist Ash Watkins, lead guitarist Tommy D. and drummer Timothy Whigham.
McCants and Dillard started the band on a whim because of their shared passion for music and later recruited the remaining members.
The band’s fan base had been slowly building during the past year, but with the help of their Web site on myspace.com, the band has been gaining recognition from complete strangers.
“It’s nuts because random people we’ve never talked to before will message us and ask us to play a show,” said McCants, a junior in journalism and theatre.
With the majority of the band attending Ohio State, MBT does what many bands do in the beginning – take over someone’s parents’ basement and rehearse until dawn.
“I love watching the band rehearse at Anthony’s parents’ house, with the music just thrumming through the house,” said Sarah Helgesen, a sophomore in theatre.
“Jeffrey’s vocals are unbelievable, and when you combine that with real intelligent lyrics and a spark of unity, it produces an amazing sound.”
The band prides itself on having a dynamic sound, with no two songs sounding alike and almost cryptic lyrics for which listeners can create their own interpretation.
MBT’s show at Scarlet & Grey Café in March brought the whole audience to their feet cheering, even though some people did not originally come to see them play, Helgesen said.
They were recently invited to be one of four bands to play at the Romophos Battle of the Bands Competition on May 4 at the Newport Music Hall. The winner of the competition will open at the Big Free Concert.
“We are really excited to play new shows, but the sweetest part of this band is just watching it grow,” McCants said.
More information on the band can be found at www.myspace.com/wearembt.
