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Punked-out alum returns to rock Bob's

BY TRYMORE MAGOMANA

John Chavez '05 makes his triumphant return to Grinnell this weekend as a member of The Punks, which he describes as a "free form improv-based" band.

The four-member band, which performs on Sept. 24 in Bob's Underground, defies definition by combining different genres. "The Punks play music that is solidly experimental," Chavez said. "We utilize traditional instruments to non-traditional means."

The Olympia, Wash.-based band was founded three years ago by non-Grinnellians Ben Parrish and Slim Moon. Chavez, who plays effected guitar, joined shortly thereafter.

Chavez, who was SGA Concerts chair as a student, said that "playing in a band after school was natural and inevitable."

Chavez also runs a booking agency focused on independent bands, The Free Agency, which he formed under the tutelage of a friend. He said, "I was destined for a career in the music industry."

Chavez has received unconditional support from his family, even though they can't always hum along to his music. "My father is excited that the band is touring the country and getting offers to fly around the world and play shows," he said.

Friends who remember Chavez from his Grinnell days approve of his new gig. "The Punks' music stands out in that it's much more eerie, much more meandering and simply more engaging than a lot of the other shit out there," said Chavez's friend Nick Zurko '07 in an e-mail. "It's purposeless and intentional at the same time. It hovers over your dome and rests there, like a little halo of smoke-it can be really quite beautiful ... and obnoxious, and then things just become confusing."

Zurko said the Punks' impressive success is in line with Chavez's personality. "Well, Chavez is what some might call a 'born hustler,' everyday he's hustlin'," he said. "Dude knows how to make things happen. So while I was amazed that The Punks, a young band compared to the other stalwarts performing, were going to play The Wire festival, I wasn't exactly surprised because John always moved at a much quicker pace than most."

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