It’s rare that a band’s second official gig is played alongside a group with almost seven million Spotify listeners, but new student band Rain Check did just that.
Rain Check formed over the summer and features six unique student musicians. Unlike the typical scenario where bands form from a group of friends, Rain Check’s members hardly knew each other as a group until they started practicing together this fall.
Their connection was formed on their mutual love of music, said Medill junior Sammy Krimstein, who sings and plays guitar.
“Music is something that brings people together,” Krimstein said. “And, even though that’s not necessarily hanging out typically, you get to know someone by being in a practice, seeing how they work, even just playing styles gives you a lens into someone. It’s been really fun getting to know all of them in that way.”
While Rain Check has only had two gigs so far, bassist and Weinberg senior Liam Powers said the band plays a mix of funk, pop and “standard band songs.” The group played both at a Family Weekend gig a few weeks ago and at a Local Mojo event on Oct. 25 with well-known indie rock duo Good Neighbours.
Guitarist and Weinberg senior Hayden Kosiara said he and Krimstein had been in various bands prior to Rain Check. Something that makes this group stand out has been the group members’ natural enthusiasm to play, they said.
“I was in another band a couple years ago that I started, and one of the most difficult things is getting people who really want to practice,” Kosiara said. “Everyone (in Rain Check) is extremely enthusiastic, and everyone really loves playing in the group, so they’re eager to do gigs (and) practice.”
Krimstein met pianist and Weinberg junior Alex Anca in Spanish class. The two started having jam sessions last year, which Kosiara eventually joined in on. The trio would play on Friday nights in Willard Hall, and by the end of the year, they decided to bring in other members to form a band over the summer.
Krimstein knew drummer and Bienen junior Calvin Simmers, who by sheer coincidence was roommates with then-prospective band member Powers. The bassist had also heard of the budding group through a Spanish class connection. With the final addition of vocalist and Weinberg senior Elsa Steen Koppell, the six members of Rain Check had assembled and were ready to jam.
“When I got led into it, I was pretty skeptical because I didn’t know anybody else besides Calvin, and it’s hard to know exactly how good people are before you’ve heard them,” Powers said. “It was nice to have our first rehearsal and be surprised (that) everyone sounds really great.”
Rain Check’s first gig was low in attendance numbers, Powers said, most likely due to an expensive $20 cover fee the venue was charging. However, the group’s sound clicked as the members had their first opportunity to lose themselves in live performance, Powers said.
The stakes amped up for Rain Check’s second gig alongside Good Neighbours, Kosiara said. But if anything, this momentum only inspired Rain Check to work even harder to perfect their sound before performing.
“Pressure makes diamonds. Having the pressure of gigs motivates, at least me, to practice more and do rehearsals over and over,” Kosiara said. “It only took us maybe two rehearsals to get settled, and so I think we’re ready to really begin.”
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