<%@ page contentType="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" language="java" import="java.sql.*" errorPage="" %>
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html><!-- InstanceBegin template="/Templates/article_features.dwt.jsp" codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked="false" -->
<head>
<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="doctitle" -->
<title>Collegian • Features •</title>
<!-- InstanceEndEditable -->
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<!-- InstanceParam name="bannerdate" type="boolean" value="true" -->
<link href="../../../../../stylesheets/collegianstyle.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="../../../../../stylesheets/links.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="head" --><!-- InstanceEndEditable -->
</head>
<body>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="575">
<!-- fwtable fwsrc="thecollegian.png" fwbase="thecollegian.jpg" fwstyle="Dreamweaver" fwdocid = "742308039" fwnested="0" -->
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><a href="../../../../../default.html"><img name="banner_main" src="../../../../../images/banner/banner_main.jpg" width="575" height="58" border="0" alt="The Collegian"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="10" valign="top"></td>
<td width="343" valign="bottom"><p class="date"><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="date" --><a href="default.html">3/19/04• Vol.
128, No. 24</a><!-- InstanceEndEditable --></p></td>
<td width="222" valign="top"><a href="../../../../../default.html"><img name="banner_rtcorner" src="../../../../../images/banner/banner_rtcorner.jpg" width="222" height="17" border="0" alt=""></a></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="575" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="topnav">
<tr>
<td id="topnav"><p><a href="../../../../../default.html">Home</a> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="sections" --><jsp:include page="../../../../nav/features.jsp" flush="true" /><!-- InstanceEndEditable --> <a href="../../../../../gallery">Gallery</a> <a href="../../../../../advertise">Advertise</a> <a href="../../../../../archive">Archive</a> <a href="../../../../../aboutus">About
Us</a></p>
</td></tr>
</table>
<table width="575" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="storyText">
<tr align="left" valign="top">
<td>
<table width="150" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="storiesnav">
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" id="storiesnav"> <a href="default.jsp">Features</a> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top"><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="sectionheadlines" -->
<p><a href="pinkeye.jsp">Think Pink</a></p>
<p><a href="cat.jsp">'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' prepares to sizzle</a></p>
<p><a href="deaddays3.jpg">DEAD DAYS</a></p>
<!-- InstanceEndEditable --></td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="storybody" -->
<h1><font size="6"><strong>Think Pink</strong></font></h1>
<p class="subhead">Local band Pink Eye packs shows by putting fun back
into rock</p>
<p class="byline">By Mitchell Peters<a href="pinkeye.jpg"><img src="pinkeye.jpg" width="287" height="228" border="0" align="right"></a></p>
<p class="byline">Art by John Rios</p>
<p class="byline"> </p>
<p>There are local bands in Fresno that will come and go without anybody
ever really noticing. </p>
<p> Pink Eye is not one of them. In the six months they have been playing
together, Pink Eye has already proven to be one of Fresno’s major
rock bands in the local music scene.</p>
<p> “
Everybody wants to see them because they have a great stage presence,” said
Christy Arndt, a Fresno State progressive rock DJ. “They sound
like they are actually compatible as musicians.” </p>
<p> Here’s a typical scenario of watching Fresno based “Indie” rock ‘n’ roll
band, Pink Eye, play. The first two bands go on stage and put on a pretty
good show. People are having a good time, buying a couple drinks, talking
to their friends. Pink Eye steps onto the stage, singer Andrew “Bad
Andy” Bunnell makes a few sarcastic comments to all the people
sitting in the audience, and the band plays their first song. Next thing
you know, everyone is crowding the stage dancing to their music.</p>
<table width="191" height="151" border="0" align="left" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="storyText" id="teasterbox">
<tr>
<td height="57"><b><font size="4">"We basically play rock ‘n’ roll
music that the girls like to dance to." </font></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right" class="storyText"><p><b>-Bad Andy</b></p>
<p><b> Guitar/Singer Pink Eye</b><b></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>“
We basically play rock ‘n’ roll music that the girls like
to dance to,” said Bad Andy, guitar player and singer for Pink
Eye.</p>
<p> This four-piece band (Bad Andy – Guitars/Vocals, Chris Eckes – Lead
guitar, Niilo Smeds – Bass, Wade Krause – Drums) does not
proclaim to be breaking any new ground within the world of rock ‘n’ roll
says Eckes. With musical influences ranging from heavy metal to hip hop
to the fabulous world of the ‘80s, Pink Eye’s music can simply
be described as music that girls like to dance to and music that boys
like to dance to says Arndt. </p>
<p> “
They can’t stop dancing,” Bad Andy said. “A lot of
bands around Fresno aren’t fun to dance to, but they’re fun
to listen to on a CD at home.”</p>
<p> The band was first formed by Bad Andy (American Sloth, Doctor Rocket
and the Moon Patrol) and Eckes (Aqua Marines) after past bands they played
in failed to go anywhere. The first formal band practices began in the “loud
room” at Guitar Center, where Bad Andy and Eckes would go to exchange
ideas.</p>
<p> “
We ditched class to go to Guitar Center a lot,” Bad Andy said. </p>
<p> Since then, Pink Eye has circulated music venues in Fresno such as
Tokyo Garden, Starline and even played a friend’s wedding. </p>
<p> Their music is very catchy and sounds similar to that of Weezer and
the Pixies. It is rock music, yes, but for some reason it makes your
body want to move and
dance. When playing in front of a live crowd, their music inspires a “feel
good” vibe within that can be compared to listening to bands such as the
Beatles and the Beach Boys.</p>
<p> “
Up until now Fresno bands haven’t gotten the clue that you need to play
upbeat music so that people will enjoy the show,” Bad Andy said. “A
lot of people rely on their friendship of people to come to the shows and listen
to the music.”</p>
<p> Although Pink Eye would like to see their band gain some notoriety
and success, their main goal is to have fun. They have a laid back attitude
toward their music
which allows them to have a good time and not take themselves too seriously.
With songs focusing on going to the laundry mat, a stripper, hanging out by
the river and a girl in the library, their lyrics are simple and not
too heavy.</p>
<p> “
It’s just straight forward rock ‘n’ roll,” Eckes said. </p>
<p> Pink Eye is currently working on recording an eight-song untitled demo
which should be finished within the next couple months. Their goal within
the next
six months is to be playing shows up and down California. Their music can be
heard at local shows in Fresno or on 90.7 KFSR-FM. </p>
<p> If you go to one of their shows, expect to dance and have a good time.
Pink Eye bridges the gap to the point where they can play with almost
any genre of rock
music says Eckes. With music that puts out a lot of energy and a drummer who
used to sell tie-dye T-shirts at Grateful Dead concerts you can’t really
go wrong.</p>
<!-- InstanceEndEditable --></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="575" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="footer">
<tr align="center">
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr align="center">
<td id="footer" colspan="2"><p><a href="javascript:history.go(-1);">Back</a> <a href="../../../../../aboutus/disclaimer.html"> Disclaimer</a> <a href="../../../../../aboutus/policy.html">Policy</a></p>
</td></tr>
</table>
</body>
<!-- InstanceEnd --></html>