Like many Jumbos, Jack LeMay played instruments in high school: piano and drums. But since moving to campus, Jack "wanted to try something a little different" and has explored a different sort of sound with the help of B.E.A.T.s (Bangin' Everything At Tufts), a group that aims to "wake people from their routine" through musical performance.
Forgoing traditional instruments like those from high school, Jack and the other members of B.E.A.T.S. have spontaneous concerts in outdoor, public areas such as Davis Square and the campus center. Sometimes, they bring instruments with them; other times, they use whatever is nearby. "Trash cans, railings, benches, anything metal has a nice acoustic," Jack says. The coolest instrument he's played? "Well, a couple of girls found a bunch of pelvic, leg, hip bones from a sheep or something in Norway and fashioned them into an instrument, like a xylophone."
B.E.A.T.s is known mostly for its musical output, but Jack says that the group's latest effort is to emphasize the theatricality of the performances. "We sometimes wear horse masks," in reference to their costuming. The group also encourages audience participation. "You know, we like to get people involved too, wake people up." Jack promises that future performances by B.E.A.T.s will contain "plenty more shenanigans."
In spite of the trashcans and animal bones, Jack still finds time to play the piano. "I just really like to play music," he says excitedly.
