Russian spies, the geocentric theory, and music have converged in an unlikely partnership under the auspices of local rock outfit Venona.
Cobbled together by Western New Yorkers Michael Donovan (vocals, drums), Lance Camann (vocals, guitar), Al Portera (guitar), Bill Sager (bass), and Long Island transplant Justin Gammella (vocals, keys, guitar), Venona has seen its fair share of ups and downs.
Originally formed under the banner of A Room With a View by Portera and Camann during high school, the band changed its name as it grew to include Sager, Donovan, and Gammella.
After bringing on Michigan vocalist Breanna Broghamer in 2008, parting ways with her several months later, and turning down an unsavory record deal, Venona found itself still searching for that elusive vocalist.
"We kind of joked around with the idea of ‘Hey, why don't we get vocal lessons and sing,'" Portera said.
When Gammella and Camann came forward with a new song, "Carry Me," they made the decision to keep working amongst themselves.
"It's always been like us five against the world. I know it's so cliché, but it's always been us five looking for the perfect member," Sager said. "But then [Gammella] came up with that, so it was like, you know what, let's just do it."
Venona is a band so packed with meaning that even the littlest details represent more than one would expect. The globe on their merch table encapsulates their take on the geocentric theory, an ideology that will also be seen on their upcoming album.
Transferring the idea that earth is the center of the universe to the idea that people often think that everything revolves around them, Venona's music has an awareness that you shouldn't think about yourself, but about others.
Taking inspiration from Coheed and Cambria, the group has set out to create an album that takes the form of a fictionalized story, but with lyrics that are relatable to what it has experienced.
Turning their backs to the skinny jeans- and plaid shirt-infused scene, Venona is making music and performances that they would want to hear. This means radio-ready tunes, lip-synched concerts, and sampled backup vocals are taboo.
"If we want to write a seven-minute song, we're going to write a seven-minute song. If we don't want to repeat the chorus three times, well, guess what, we're not going to repeat the chorus three times," Sager said. "It's not on the radio. We're pretty much writing this because we want to write what we want to hear."
Facing a slowly dying Buffalo scene and with venues increasingly closing down, Venona still plays for the sake of playing live. In a time when even Grammy winners give low-quality performances, there is a lot to be said for a group that is willing to give concertgoers what they came for.
It's always an added benefit for the band when it gets to team up with community groups and use concerts as a way to help the less fortunate.
"We've played several benefit shows that went toward the needy people that needed winter clothing, food, and stuff like that," Portera said. "It makes the show all the more awesome for us just to know that not only are people coming there to enjoy your music and experience it, but you're also giving back to the community."
Although their name comes from a Cold War-era program to decode Russian spy messages, Venona's commitment to music and listeners is not at all difficult to decipher.
"I really want people to listen to the music that we have. We can give free downloads. We haven't made any money off our music yet," Gammella said. "We have a thing on our Facebook that says if you want these songs, just send us an e-mail… We just want to get the music out there."
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