Huntington News

Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: The Inside

Media Credit: Photo Courtesy/Beatrice Bugnosen

"War is over."

This sentiment, originally from John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1971 Christmas song, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," was sung in response to the Vietnam War.

New York City-based trio The Kin recently repeated the same lyrics in "New Day," a song guitarist/vocalist Thorry Koren said was a reaction to "the war within."

"It's a call not to end war, but a call to acknowledge that no more war needs to happen," he said. "And it is keeping the legacy of what John Lennon said."

The Kin is currently touring nationwide with Josh Kelley and Pat McGee and will perform at afterHOURS tonight at 8 p.m.

The band, comprised of brothers, Thorry and Isaac of Australia, and drummer "Shaker Leg," recently performed the song on "Good Day New York," a live morning show on Fox News. After about two and a half minutes, the repetitions of "War Is Over" began and the news channel cut out.

Thorry said it was "more than strange that a very pro-war station like Fox News would do that so blatantly."

"New Day" is among The Kin's catalogue of songs about change. The band, originally comprised of Thorry and former Northeastern student Isaac, formed after the brothers wrote a song for their father's wedding about seven years ago.

The band has since added "Shaker Leg," a drummer who plays percussion with his limbs instead of sticks, to their lineup and matured from their "preaching" indie rock sound, Thorry said.

"We've gone from being young and [preaching] to realizing that we're just here to raise questions and hopefully be a call to a new perspective," he said.

The Kin is also known for their philanthropic work. They have raised money for the Save Darfur Coalition and Madison Square Boys and Girls Club, according to the band's website.

AfterHOURS Manager Tasha Henderson said the band is being brought to Northeastern based on feedback from afterHOURS employees Tom Klodenski and Sean McDermott.

Klodenski and McDermott, both middler music industry majors, will open for The Kin with the band Plastic Reverie. Solo performer Micah will also open the show.

Plastic Reverie was formed by middler music industry major Marc Pellegrino. The band, which also includes senior music major Chip Homer, plays ambient electronic rock songs based around Pellegrino's lyrics.

Pellegrino said the band is named after the French word "rêve," which means to dream, and plastic, which represents the electronic element of their sound. The song topics range from relationships to random moments in Pellegrino's life.

"I've tried to make it a mixture of good music that is fun to listen to and I very much pride myself in my lyrics," he said. "I'll spend months writing one verse making sure that it's perfect."

Pellegrino met The Kin this spring while on co-op at Billboard magazine in New York City.

"We were just hanging out and they were like, come open for us," he said.

The Kin will release its album "Rise And Fall" Oct. 9. In addition to its afterHOURS show, they will play Paradise Rock Club Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.

Thorry said he is excited to play at new venues nationwide.

"There's nothing like playing to an audience," he said. "Maybe some bands are meant to play for themselves. Our music doesn't exist unless there's [an audience]."

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