It all started back in '97, when drummer Matt McGinely met the promising young MC Travis McCoy. Together in gym class, they recognized their talent and love for music, and dun dun dun - they started the infamous Gym Class Heroes (GCH).
On Monday, Oct. 5, UB welcomed the Geneva hip-rockers with excitement and open arms. In a performance at the Center For the Arts' Mainstage Theatre, as part of the Verizon Wireless Campus Tour, GCH commanded the crowd with their upbeat songs and heightened energy.
A much-anticipated GCH took the stage with McCoy sporting a V for Vendetta mask. The crowd lifted to their feet as the guitar sounds echoed throughout the venue.
As the beats began, it was obvious that the rockers were close to home as they made it a point to shout out to the locals.
Most people in attendance seemed unfamiliar with the words other than the radio singles, but the crowd unleashed wildly offbeat hand and head bobs in adoration of their musical heroes.
During their new hit "Clothes Off," one girl in the audience managed to take it literally and flashed the crowd.
Rounding out Gym Class are guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo and bassist Eric Roberts. Before the concert, McGinely and Kasongo sat down with The Spectrum and answered a few questions to allow the UB students inside their mental gymnasium.
When asked about their early musical prowess, Kasongo frankly stated, "I never took instruments that seriously until I was 15 and I learned guitar."
"When I settled on the drum set I was obsessed with it," McGinely replied.
He later talked about how he felt walking into a music store to test out different drums. Once he started to learn, he was fixated on learning more. But when asked if the group members knew that they would eventually be famous, McGinely warm-heartedly replied, "We were never fixated on success. If I had chosen another path, I'd still be involved somehow with music."
The two members of GCH created a casual and comfortable interview session, which transferred to the stage. Their clothes reflected their laid back personalities. The energy in the room when Gym Class Heroes took the stage was unmistakable.
Gym Class Heroes were also part of the Vans Warped Tour in 2005-2006.
"Warped Tour is sweet. We did it for two summers in a row," said McGinely.
Since their heightened success, the band has traveled overseas and recently opened up for Gwen Stefani in Australia.
"Australia was one of my favorite places in the world. Gwen came over and introduced herself. She is really chill and cool," said Kasongo.
He also spoke about how good it felt to open up for someone so influential to him while growing up.
Even though success seems like it has been coming at lightning speed for the Gym Class Heroes, they talked about how it wasn't always this easy. The group formed in 1997, but didn't rise to mainstream popularity until about six or seven years later.
"It wasn't as fast as it probably appears to everyone else. Starting from this past January to now, it all came really fast," said Kasongo.
Recently the group won an MTV Video Music Award for best new artist. When asked how it felt to realize their success through the moon man, Kasongo openly recounted that moment.
"I took it all in at once when they said our name."
After speaking about their growing accomplishments, they touched on their busy schedule. McGinely jokingly recalled some of their hectic moments.
"We'll have a sweet little chunk of time and then all of a sudden you have to fly to LA to do Leno," he said.
The group will be touring different college campuses around the Northeast. Their next stop on the tour is only two hours outside Buffalo, in their hometown of Geneva, NY.
On performing for college students, McGinely said, "I'm stoked because for the longest time I wanted to do a college tour. College kids get it a little more."
He explained that college students seem to relate to the lyrics better and because of that they're more into the show.
Since the next stop on their tour is Geneva, McGinely seemed to be pretty pumped. Kasongo clarified by saying, "In a way I'm almost nervous. It's dramatic that we haven't been there in such a long time."
About two hours later the concert started. Fans screamed in anticipation, waiting for Gym Class Heroes to come onstage. When they did, the entire Mainstage Theatre erupted with energy. The group had everyone clapping and dancing in their seats.
Front man Travis McCoy interacted with the audience in between each song. The success for Gym Class Heroes is skyrocketing day after day. Their heart-pumping music and love for the industry shows the great performers for what they are.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
