Service members bring joy to Djibouti through music

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jarod Perkioniemi | American Musical Outreach plays a musical set for the locals at the Community...... read more read more

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jarod Perkioniemi | American Musical Outreach plays a musical set for the locals at the Community Development Center, District Four, Djibouti, Aug. 13, 2008.  see less | View Image Page

CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI

10.15.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Jarod Perkioniemi 

20th Public Affairs Detachment

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By Staff Sgt. Jarod Perkioniemi
20the Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti - For several service members stationed at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Wednesday nights are a unique opportunity to share their love of music.

Originally asked to play at the U.S. Embassy, the band, American Musical Outreach, has now performed at eight different Community Development Centers around the city of Djibouti.

"The band approached me back in June to set up concerts for them on a rotating basis," said Niles Cole, public affairs officer, U.S. Embassy.

Concerts are held in areas of the city where a CDC is located. There are currently 12 CDCs in Djibouti, each with a scheduled date for the band to play.

"They get to play for appreciative crowds and they have really good turn outs," added Cole, a Luray, Va., native.

Besides their love of music, the members of the band all say that the most rewarding part of the experience is seeing the smiles on the kids' faces.

"It's all about the children; they're the future of this country," said Master Sgt. Trey Chisolm, headquarters and headquarter's battery, 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Regiment. "You can show them, 'hey we're not bad guys.'"

"The entertainment we derive, watching the kids dance, is second to none," added Lt. Col. John Mahinis, a Wellsville, N.Y., native and one of the two original band members.

The band got its start in February when Mahinis and Maj. Huey Haymon were playing for their own enjoyment and were approached with a request to play at the embassy.

Realizing they needed more members, they set out to find talent on the base.

The band's current roster is: Mahinis; Haymon, from Albertville, Ala.; Navy Cmdr. Janette Jose, from Montgomery Village, Md.; Chisolm, a Dallas native; Army Sgt. 1st Class Doug Ferguson, a Lawton, Okla., native; Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Britt Ripley, an Indianapolis native; Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Reid Davis, from Sunol, Calif.; Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Rice, from Phoenix; and newcomer, George Baker, a Columbia S.C., native.

The Aug. 13, 2008, concert was located at the District Four CDC.

Upon the band's arrival, 20 people were already waiting for the concert to start. The band began to set-up their equipment, where only two street lights in an alleyway provided illumination. Determined to make due with what they had, the band used flashlights to see while they linked up all the cords needed to conduct sound checks in preparation for the concert. Bringing all their own equipment, the band placed key pieces of equipment on rugs so it would not to be buried in the sandy ground.

After 15 minutes of work, the band was ready to perform their set, which included cover songs like: Walk This Way by Aerosmith, Reminiscing by Little River Band, Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett and Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down.

Before beginning the concert, the band was introduced by Cole, speaking in French, who welcomed everyone to the show.

Most of the locals attended for the experience and sound of music, rather than the lyrics to the songs, sitting only a few feet away from the stage nodding their heads to the music.

Despite temperatures around 120 degrees and high humidity, the band did not allow the weather to slow them down as they transitioned fluidly from one song to the next, each time gaining more fans in the crowd.

Midway through the set, Cole introduced the members of the band. Cole also gave the members of the band a chance to speak to the crowd.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we are thankful that you invited us into your city tonight to play," said Mahinis. "We come to you as musicians, as Americans, as friends. We'd like to extend to you, through our music, not only our friendship but a message of ever-lasting peace."

Near the end of the concert, exhausted and drenched in sweat, the band encouraged the young kids in the crowd to come up and dance.

Ferguson, sound manager of the band, came out from behind the band to begin dancing with some of the kids. As expected, there was nothing but smiles across the kids faces as they danced into the night.

With only four more concerts scheduled, the band is looking to expand their concerts not only in Djibouti but also into other areas in Africa.

"We'd love to go to other countries, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, wherever," said Chisolm.

For the group of service members stationed in the Horn of Africa, using their passion for music and a desire to expand their own horizons, Wednesday nights have become something very special to them and the local community.