The stage isn’t full of typical band instruments, but then again, Recycled Percussion isn’t your typical band. Sure there are turntables and a guitar, but gone are traditional drum kits. In their place stand items you’re likely to find around the house – buckets, barrels, drain pipes, ladders and a sink that looks like it’s taken a beating or two … hundred.
Recycled Percussion is fronted by Justin Spencer who created the group in the late ‘90s for a high school talent show. He’s joined by fellow drummer Ryan Vezina, guitarist Jim Magoon and DJ Pharaoh. Based in New Hampshire, RP has created their own sound called Junk Rock. On their appropriately titled Junk Radio Tour, the band plays everything from ska to blues to trance to classic rock. To spice things up they even throw in a little boy band pop and do their best NSYNC impersonations.
RP’s April 24th show at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY was the group’s second time performing at the school in a year. RP connected easily with the college crowd who sang along to tracks like Green Day’s “American Idiot” and Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
What makes RP’s show so great is how creative it is. Where else would you see guys in welding helmets making sparks fly literally as they go metal to metal by taking power tools to a barrel or two guys playing neon-colored ladders like a drum set? RP knows how to entertain as the audience watches their every move and catches each drumstick they throw into the crowd (one of which was caught by yours truly).
If you ever get the chance to see Recycled Percussion in action, go! You won’t be sorry. For future tour updates, check out RP’s website and MySpace.
I made a YouTube playlist of the videos I took at the show. Here’s the first video to get you started.
