I was more than a little skeptical about attending and reviewing a show by a band named Zox. The posters with caricatures of the band members posted across campus did not help their case. This band had “gimmick” written all over them. But was I ever mistaken. Attending Zox’s performance Friday night in Ryley turned out to be far more enjoyable than the alternative: sitting in the dorm playing Family Feud into the wee hours of the morning. These guys were stellar. So stellar, in fact, that they received an eardrum shattering chant for an encore, a very rare compliment for a visiting band. The Norwegian rock-gods, the band known as Lufhammer to the mere mortals here at Andover, got the party started with the vivacity and exuberance that we have all come to love and expect from them. The most memorable portion of their performance, excluding Scotty Morgan’s ’06 legendary tiger print tights, was the new Lufhammer theme, the aptly titled Anthem. Even the members of Zox exclaimed, “When I say LUF, you say HAMMER!!!” True to their word, as always, the boys of Lufhammer definitely did bring the “rawk” to those lucky enough to attend. Shortly after Lufhammer’s last bows, Zox took the stage. The crowd was taken by surprise by the band’s electric violin player, known as Spencer the Gangstar. Spencer, who has been studying and playing the violin for over twenty years, created music that was both exotic and mesmerizing. Absorbing the combination of his technical wizardry and the amazing effects provided by the foot pedals was an unforgettable experience. Describing Zox’s style is a difficult task, as they boast a genuinely unique playing style. The best description of Zox’s zany sound would be a Molotov cocktail of psychedelic ska-reggae-rock with a flash of punk-pop and alternative. The momentum of the show was like the steady charge of a large train. Initially, the performance seemed somewhat reserved. Nonetheless, any observer could tell from the outset that there was a whole heck of a lot of horsepower behind this unit. With every song, including a tasteful and energetic cover of The Police’s “Can’t Stand Losing You,” the storm intensified. By the end of the show, Zox had the audience in their pockets. Rarely has an on-campus performance connected and stirred the student body more than this one. Immediately after Zox finished their encore, the elation in Ryley was palpable. No one, students, faculty, or band members, was bereft of a smile. In spite of initial skepticism, Zox miraculously made Winter Term suck just a little bit less, if only for two hours on a Friday night. For that, on behalf of the cranky, aggravated, sleep-deprived Andover student body, thanks for the music.
