Posted on October 1, 2007
If you turned on the radio at all over the past year, you will undoubtedly recognize the hit tune by this year’s fall Convocation show performers.
Hip-hop sensation Gym Class Heroes will bring high energy and music to JMU Wednesday night.
“We discussed lots of other options before the Gym Class Heroes tour was announced in May, but we knew it would be a great show and went for it,” said senior Tiffany Mink, director of Center Stage for UPB.
Hailing from upstate New York, Gym Class Heroes is made up of Matt McGinley (drummer), Eric Roberts (bassist), Travis McCoy (MC) and Diashi Lumumba-Kasongo (guitar).
The band was formed in 1997 at a high school party, according to MTV’s Web site. After several years of slowly getting its name out, they released their first full-length album, …For the Kids in 2002, followed by The Papercut Chronicles, recorded in 2003.
Pete Wentz, of the popular band Fall Out Boy, heard the rough cut of the Papercut album before it was even finished. He signed Gym Class Heroes to his Fueled by Ramen record label imprint, Decaydance.
The band went on to tour with other notable artists including Midtown and Fall Out Boy. They also played at the Bamboozle festival and Warped Tour, among other festivals.
This is not the first time the band visited the Harrisonburg area. Gym Class Heroes performed at The Pub in April 2006 as a part of the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference, more commonly known as MACRoCk. The weekend-long festival is dedicated to college radio stations and the independent music that is popular among listeners.
Gym Class Hero’s latest album, As Cruel as Children, was released in July 2006 and has climbed the charts over the past year.
Since then, Gym Class Heroes has enjoyed immense radio success with their hit single, “Cupid’s Chokehold.” Earlier this month, the band picked up an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist of the Year, an award which is voted on by viewers.
Since the band has seen such success in the past few weeks, Mink hopes people will come out and enjoy the show Wednesday night.
“I want Convo to turn into a big dance party,” Mink said. “I’ve yet to see a sub-par Gym Class show, so I have some pretty high expectations and I’m sure they will be met.”
It’s truly a team effort in preparing for the show, according to Mink.
“Without our volunteers, [the show] wouldn’t be possible,” she said. “Students dedicated to UPB are the ones loading in and setting up the equipment, working the show and tearing it all down at the end.”
Gym Class Heroes will perform Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. in the Convocation Center. Tickets are still available at the Warren Hall Box Office for $20 with a JAC Card, limit two per card or online for $25 through upb.jmu.edu.
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