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Band honors family members by playing at Diman cancer walk
Band honors family members by playing at Diman cancer walk
By Jeffrey D. Wagner
Herald News Correspondent
Posted May 23, 2012 @ 08:40 PM
FALL RIVER - B.M.C. Durfee High School junior David Canizales’ grandmother recently passed away from cancer. His grandfather currently is fighting it, while three of his aunts are cancer survivors.
It was a poignant moment for Canizales, a musician, when his band Astrocat performed at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School’s annual Stomp Out Cancer walk earlier this month.
"They had to undergo their own trials but they are doing well now," he said of his three aunts, all of whom had breast cancer. One also had oral cancer.
"It’s a family history rich in illness," Canizales added.
Canizales, a guitarist and songwriter, finally got the opportunity to honor his family in a special way, raising money and awareness when his rock band Astrocat played its first gig following the cancer walk.
Astrocat singer and lead guitarist Daniel Cesar, a Diman junior, and drummer Hailey Tripp, also a Diman junior, helped organize the event and they hope it evolves into an annual battle of the bands, which would follow the cancer walk.
Cesar said he is looking around for other student musicians and bands for what he hopes would be an annual part of the post-cancer walk festivities.
Tripp was all smiles recently, after mentioning that she and members of her junior class helped organize the cancer walk. Stemming from that, Astrocat was able to land its first gig after working together for a year.
Tripp’s great aunt also passed away from cancer, a moment that greatly affected her father, who coincidentally piqued Tripp’s interest in drumming.
Diman cancer walk organizer Alexis Vadeboncoeur, a junior, was delighted that the band performed.
"I am glad they decided to play. It must have been hard for them going through all that pain," Vadeboncoeur said, adding that her mom and aunt also battled cancer. "I know how it feels; it must have meant a lot to them."
Along with strong hearts, the band has plenty of talent to boot.
Bassist Nick Sousa, a Durfee senior, has been an active member of Durfee’s concert and marching bands.
Canizales used to play in the marching band before he became more active with guitar and songwriting. He was actively involved in Durfee’s tech theatre this year.
Cesar met Canizales in the sixth grade at Talbot, where the two forged a strong friendship but perhaps an even stronger musical bond.
Tripp, meanwhile, has been playing drums for the last four years.
During a recent jam session, Tripp and Sousa kept perfect time while Cesar and Canizales exchanged sizzling guitar riffs in the band’s instrumental "Skooma" and the punk-flavored "Psycho Killer" by the Talking Heads.
Cesar, who was once described as having a mellow persona, took on a rebel roar in "Psycho Killer," showcasing his powerful rock vocals.
Cancer walk organizer and Diman Office Technology instructor Suzanne Ramos was impressed with the band’s Diman performance.
"The band unfortunately, did not have the opportunity to perform any of their original music, but the fact that they write their own music speaks volumes to their level of creativity and musicianship," Ramos said. "The cover songs they performed ranged from present day to as far back as the ’70s, which is over 20 years before they were born, illustrating some culture, knowledge and personality amongst the members."
In addition to becoming a staple of Diman’s cancer walk, the band hopes to play more at Durfee events, and possibly at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River.
Go to Diman news.
By Jeffrey D. Wagner
Herald News Correspondent
Posted May 23, 2012 @ 08:40 PM
It was a poignant moment for Canizales, a musician, when his band Astrocat performed at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School’s annual Stomp Out Cancer walk earlier this month.
"They had to undergo their own trials but they are doing well now," he said of his three aunts, all of whom had breast cancer. One also had oral cancer.
"It’s a family history rich in illness," Canizales added.
Canizales, a guitarist and songwriter, finally got the opportunity to honor his family in a special way, raising money and awareness when his rock band Astrocat played its first gig following the cancer walk.
Astrocat singer and lead guitarist Daniel Cesar, a Diman junior, and drummer Hailey Tripp, also a Diman junior, helped organize the event and they hope it evolves into an annual battle of the bands, which would follow the cancer walk.
Cesar said he is looking around for other student musicians and bands for what he hopes would be an annual part of the post-cancer walk festivities.
Tripp was all smiles recently, after mentioning that she and members of her junior class helped organize the cancer walk. Stemming from that, Astrocat was able to land its first gig after working together for a year.
Tripp’s great aunt also passed away from cancer, a moment that greatly affected her father, who coincidentally piqued Tripp’s interest in drumming.
Diman cancer walk organizer Alexis Vadeboncoeur, a junior, was delighted that the band performed.
"I am glad they decided to play. It must have been hard for them going through all that pain," Vadeboncoeur said, adding that her mom and aunt also battled cancer. "I know how it feels; it must have meant a lot to them."
Along with strong hearts, the band has plenty of talent to boot.
Bassist Nick Sousa, a Durfee senior, has been an active member of Durfee’s concert and marching bands.
Canizales used to play in the marching band before he became more active with guitar and songwriting. He was actively involved in Durfee’s tech theatre this year.
Cesar met Canizales in the sixth grade at Talbot, where the two forged a strong friendship but perhaps an even stronger musical bond.
Tripp, meanwhile, has been playing drums for the last four years.
During a recent jam session, Tripp and Sousa kept perfect time while Cesar and Canizales exchanged sizzling guitar riffs in the band’s instrumental "Skooma" and the punk-flavored "Psycho Killer" by the Talking Heads.
Cesar, who was once described as having a mellow persona, took on a rebel roar in "Psycho Killer," showcasing his powerful rock vocals.
Cancer walk organizer and Diman Office Technology instructor Suzanne Ramos was impressed with the band’s Diman performance.
"The band unfortunately, did not have the opportunity to perform any of their original music, but the fact that they write their own music speaks volumes to their level of creativity and musicianship," Ramos said. "The cover songs they performed ranged from present day to as far back as the ’70s, which is over 20 years before they were born, illustrating some culture, knowledge and personality amongst the members."
In addition to becoming a staple of Diman’s cancer walk, the band hopes to play more at Durfee events, and possibly at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River.
Go to Diman news.