Photo By Spc. Richard Vogt | Members of the Crash Dance band crash into Q-West base during their tour of the Middle...... read more read more
QAYYARAH WEST BASE COMPLEX, Iraq (Mar. 6, 2006) -- Screeching guitars may not be relaxing for everyone, but they are for the hard-core music lovers at Q-West.
"It's like a taste of home," said Spc. Robert Graham, Signal Support Specialist, 153rd Field Artillery, now working in the Department of Public Works.
Graham said he listens to mostly hard rock. To his delight, the Crash Band played covers of Alice in Chains" "Man in the Box" and System of a Down's "Chop Suey!" March 6 at the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facility here.
"It's something to do, to go see so I'm not just sitting in my CHU," Graham said. A few aisles over, two friends waited for the show to begin.
"It feels good to get some live music instead of listening to the CD player. It's a moral booster," said Pfc. James Carusetta, Multiple Launch Rocket Sytem crew member, Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division.
"Music is such a big part of our lives, anything that helps take your mind off of the situation helps," said Pfc. Roger Garcia, MLRS crew member. Garcia and Carusetta joined the U.S. Army under the buddy program and went through training together and are in the same unit.
The audience was not the only ones having fun. Sean Hall, one of the guitarists for the band, was talking to Soldiers before the show.
"It's a very rewarding experience," Hall said.
"Back home we do original stuff but this tour is all covers," drummer Tim Williams explained. "The company we work for books entertainment for MWR for the military-cheerleaders, comedians, TV stars, Santa Claus, etc. They asked us if we wanted to come, and we said yes. It's been great. The military has been taking great care of us. We feel safe."
"I've gained a lot more pride since coming out here, from what I've seen and talking to Soldiers-how they approach the situation and how they value life," said bassist Patrick Langford.
After that the band lit up the stage and invited Soldiers to join them onstage, which several of them did. Most of the people who came onstage chose to stage dive into the throngs of cheering spectators, smiling and enjoying the sonic experience.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2006 11:49 |
| Story ID: | 5679 |
| Location: | QAYYARAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 232 |
| Downloads: | 116 |
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