Main Squeeze brings funk, rock to Bluebird

The band members of The Main Squeeze are headlining what they said they believe is their most important show tonight at The Bluebird.

The band, which formed in April, has played mostly at bars and greek events and opened up for State Radio on in May 1 at Dunn Meadow. The Main Squeeze is primarily a cover band of classic rock and funk jams, but the musicians are slowly developing their own sound.

The band will play three of their own original works today and dish out a personalized concert experience, the band members said.

“We know we are going to tear the roof down,” keyboarder Ben “Smiley” Silverstein said.

It is the first show for which they had time to sit down and get everything the way they wanted and aren’t learning the songs the day of. Today’s show will also break in the band’s new bassist, Ray Vanlanot, who joined two weeks ago, said drummer Reuben Gingrich. 

The band has a different style than other cover bands on campus, band mates said. They have a hearty core, which they balance while jamming their way to a creative edge they want to explore more.

“It’s like you don’t try to make something original, you just try to make something from your heart or head, or whatever it is,” Newman said. “All it really takes is the right mind-set and the right environment.”

Band mates agreed that they wanted to play “funky stuff” and have similar musical influences.

“Some of us will sometimes go more toward other influences, and we all put those together, and when we jam together and don’t know what we are going to play – all of those come out in each of us,” Silverstein said.

The Main Squeeze is also trying to take the concert experience in a different direction.
The vision for this experience is organized by senior Jason Greenberg’s Cheech Productions including catered food by Epic Eats and a light show by Herm Productions.

The band wants the show to be a party atmosphere, where people aren’t just watching, but are also having a good time themselves, band mates said.