Worcester County’s Hit the Bus Performs For and Teaches Central MA
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
Three members of the band Hit the Bus with front man Dave Garden on the acoustic guitar in front. The band plays many, many different genres of music. Photo courtesy of Cady Spencer.
Hit the Bus, a group of musicians from towns all over Central Mass, is more than just a talented local band that specializes in playing an extraordinarily eclectic mix of music to audiences throughout the state. Members of the band, especially the band's co-founder David Garden, have found an even deeper calling in the realm of musicianship, that is, instructing others on how to find their own voice within the art.
Garden Music Together
By day, Garden, Hit the Bus' co-vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and harp player and a Worcester County native born and bred, runs an early childhood music center called Garden Music Together.
"It's music with movement for kids and their parents and caregivers," says Garden. The organization currently has classes ongoing in Worcester, Southborough and Holden, and centers around the simple philosophical premise that "all children are musical." In other words, all children are born with a certain potential for musicianship, and it's the job of Garden's Center to help begin the process that may eventually actualize this potential.
Garden himself knows the power and importance of music.
"Music has always been a part of my life. I honestly could not picture my life without music. I do it all day and every day. I am very lucky to be doing what I love for a living," says Garden.
The Band
Garden also teaches private voice, piano and guitar lessons at Mr. C's Music Store in Marlborough. This is where he met Eric Yanaway, lead guitarist for the band. The two started playing as a duo before forming the full band in 2008 thanks to the eventual addition of Jack Shanahan of Jack's Guitar Garage in Northborough on drums, Paul Gannon, who also provides private music instruction, on bass, and Robin Melendez, whom Garden met while both participated in "Haunted Melodie: A Broadway Cabaret" with the Hudson Arts Alliance, on lead vocals.
As you can see, each member brings a wide range of different talents and experiences to the stage which, in turn, allows the band to experiment with an incredible amount of styles and reach out to a multitude of audiences.
"We each bring our own unique style to the band. So we can play many genres of music. We can play rock, country, blues, Irish and pop. You really want to listen and feel the crowd out. We like to take requests to get the audience involved," says Garden, addressing the band's versatility.
For this reason, you can find them playing anywhere from bars and restaurants to private parties and weddings.
They are kicking off Northborough's Summer Concert Series on July 11th. They will also be participating in a video shoot for Channel 13 in Northborough this month. They have back-to-back nights scheduled at Sakura Tokyo on the 12th and 13th, and will be playing at Michael's Cigar Bar, one of their favorite venues, on the 20th.
Their goal in performing is simple. "We hope to keep live entertainment relevant for future generations," says Garden.
Of course, this sentiment makes sense for Garden, whose very profession dictates that he cultivate the spirit of music in generations to come, making sure it will always be an important part of our community.
For more information on Hit the Bus please find them on Facebook.
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