Mr. Greengenes provides alternate entertainment for Matthews' fans

By JAMES CONROY
Collegian Staff Writer

Wednesday night, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds entertained 2,500 fans. But Stephanie Averitt (junior-marketing) was not one of them.

Like Averitt, many of the fans that did not get tickets for the Dave Matthews acoustic concert turned to Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., for their musical entertainment. West Chester-based Mr. Greengenes didn't disappoint.

The all-ages show didn't start until 11 p.m., which left plenty of time for anyone who wanted to attend both shows to do so. One of those people was John McGee, bassist for Mr. Greengenes. Because of the late start, the band members could go to the Matthews/Reynolds concert and still make it to their own show in time.

Many of the fans who came out in support of Greengenes first saw them last Tuesday at the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon benefit concert the band played with three others. That was the band's first show at Crowbar and the first all-age show it has played in State College.

Others were fans from the band's hometown. Lisa Christensen (freshman-biology) graduated from the same high school, Chichester High School, as some of the band members and saw them play there last year.

Greengenes is a cover band, but unlike most cover bands, it does not focus on one style of music. Playing covers of Jimmy Buffett, LL Cool J and everything in between, Greengenes definitely plays something for everyone. But it is at its best when it covers songs from acts like Soul Coughing and 311.

Because of the energy lead singer Bryen O'Boyle and the rest of the band emit, rock/rap hybrids like Rage Against the Machine's "Darkness of Greed" seem the perfect fit for Greengenes.

But the energy was almost drained in June when O'Boyle underwent surgery to remove a polyp growing in his throat. Although the polyp was benign, the surgery cut the band's set list from almost 150 songs to 50. Although it has increased its set list to about 80 songs, O'Boyle says he is still not back to 100 percent.

Now that the band is back to touring with O'Boyle, it hopes to get back into the studio and start recording again. "We were recording for the second album when I discovered I had the polyp," said O'Boyle. "Now we're hoping to get the album done and release it in summer sometime."