CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Soldiers from the 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were treated by piano-rock alternative band Kidnap Kings, to a concert held at Contingency Operating Site Marez, Aug. 22.
The concert at COS Marez was part of a six-concert tour throughout Iraq, including concerts at Joint Base Balad and Camp Victory, in Baghdad.
“Just the opportunity to come out here and play for soldiers is why we do this,” said Sebastian Davin, lead vocalist and pianist for the band.
“We don’t quite have what it takes to do what all of you [soldiers] do, so this is our way of helping out anyway we can,” said Davin, a Minnesota native.
Davin’s younger brother, Seth Davin, the guitarist for the band, agreed.
“We come here because the soldiers are here … we care about what is going on with the soldiers, so the best way is to come out here to see and talk to the soldiers in person,” said Seth Davin.
The trip to COS Marez marked the second time the band has played in Iraq, and the third time for the Davin Brothers, who were playing with a different band the first time.
“Even visiting over the past few years we can tell there have been a lot of changes. Before, we’d play at a lot of very remote locations, but now everyone seems more centralized on the larger bases, so it’s great to see that things really are progressing for the country and our soldiers over here,” Seth Davin said.
The Davin brothers performed music from the Kidnap Kings’ soon-to-be-released album, “Flashing Lights and Sound,” which featured the singles “Into this Disaster,” “Anything She Wants,” and a cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”