Hotung Cafe probably isn't the place you imagine yourself hanging out on a social night. Sandwiches to-go are not usually cause for a party.
But this Thursday, from 9 to 10:30 p.m., The Brad Callow Band promises to transform Hotung Cafe into something more than a place to pick up pizza.
AppleJam's free show in Oxfam may be a draw for some on Thursday night, but BCB's got karma on its side: all proceeds from CD sales will go to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Three of the four BCB members are Tufts alumni, and were members of the group The Residence, a popular group when band members were students.
Returning to perform on campus will start the season off memorably for BCB. "We're looking to start off on a strong foot," says Anish Jain (E '06), bassist, saxophonist and band spokesman.
While it may be the beginning of the school year, this is certainly not the beginning of the band's career. The Brad Callow Band has a strong performance background and is scheduled to play in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire over the next few months.
The band's Thursday night set will include a mix of cover songs and original music, which the group writes collaboratively.
"Brad usually writes something about his life experiences and then brings it to the band," says Jain, "The group continues from there."
Writing music together is nothing new. Band members Jain, Brad Callow (LA '04) and John Burlock (LA '05), have been performing together since they met at Tufts. As members of their first band, The Residence, graduated and moved away, Jain, Callow and Burlock regrouped as the Brad Callow Band, joined by Rob Levy of Boston University on lead guitar.
Their music is the catchy kind of pop-rock that you find yourself singing along to even when you don't know the words. The lyrics of BCB's love songs are meaningful, not cliche like many romantic ballads. The band's acoustic take on their genre also makes their music unique.
"We worked together extensively before we graduated and had formed a great, creative friendship,"
says Jain. "We wanted to continue that relationship. Right now we're really pushing Brad in his music career, which is really taking off."
Though most of the group"s members are Tufts alumni, the Brad Callow Band didn't choose to play at Hotung Cafe out of homesickness for the buffalo chicken sandwiches. Their decision has roots in something much more serious: lead singer Callow's mother was diagnosed with Leukemia roughly two months ago. The band wanted to support Brad and his family, as well as other Leukemia victims.
"It's been a difficult time," acknowledges Jain, "we're hoping to use our music and our shows as a way to raise awareness about this issue and give people a chance to make a charitable contribution."
The band will be selling a CD of their original music for $5, and donating 100 percent of the proceeds to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The last time the group performed at Hotung Cafe, in Fall 2003, between 200 and 250 students attended. The band hopes for a repeat success.
