Tyler Kerponai – Special to the Southern News
New Haven is often times the place for music and the arts to flourish in Connecticut. With so many venues in the area such as Toad’s Place, Cafe Nine, and The Space just down the road, its not hard to find talent in the vicinity.
One of such bands is Eggy, a four piece band centered right here in New Haven. Comprised of Jake Brownstein on guitar, Dani Battat on keyboard, Chris Kelly on drums, and Dan Raucci on bass; they describe themselves as a high energy and exciting rock band geared toward delivering captivating live performances.
Their style is a melting pot of funk, rock, Americana, and R&B.
Formed back in 2012, the band has begun to play locally extending out towards adjacent states such as New York and Massachusetts going as far as to Pennsylvania.
“I’ve been playing music with Jake since I pretty much started playing music,” said Battat.
“Once we all realized we were in the same area and we started jamming we sorta followed that way,” said Brownstein.
With the band formed they began playing and forming their following. However, they were open to traveling out of state for performances. Every band has a crowning moment or favorite memory, and for Eggy it became their trip to New York.
“I’d say playing in Rhinebeck, New York” said Brownstein. “For the first time we played at midnight and before that no one was there and then all of sudden there was a bunch of people there. [They] were really dancing and that was the first real moment of people [we] didn’t know thoroughly enjoying our music.”
Interestingly, the group is still young and many are still pursuing their education. This presents a whole new group of challenges for Eggy. However, academics causes the hardest part which is to simply make the schedules fit.
“I’d say the hardest thing,” said Brownstein, ”is juggling being in a band with early 20 year olds who are all trying to figure out their lives and prepare themselves and organize themselves.”
On top of that, the band is fairly busy. This fall in particular they have a full lineup of shows in New Haven, Seymour, Woodbridge and Black Rock.
Nevertheless, youth is not an enemy to this band, its actually a boost. Using the time they have, the band is looking to sharpen their skills and utilize the outlet of performing music.
“It’s an opportunity to really express ourselves.” said Battat. “Write music and have a band thats able to play it and share in the feelings of the songs and just have a group that can consistently push your limits as a player.”
More than anything its about the experience for this young group. Today so many artists are under review for their lack of passion and external motives to create music it’s refreshing to see such talented individuals playing for their love of it all.
“We don’t take any money out of the band,” said Brownstein. “We all put it back into the band its just something thats a lot of fun that I’m going to give everything I can until anyone says otherwise.
While I have the time to pursue music in that sort of way I’m absolutely going to jump on the opportunity. Its one of the most fulfilling and satisfying things I might as well try and make a career out of it.”
Photo Credit: David Loomer
