New CD & Members For Playback—

 A Benefit For Newtown With ‘Music Under The Stars’

By Christian Villodas

Mark your calendars, pack up the kids, and get ready for “Music Under the Stars,” a concert that will feature the urban lullabies of Playback in a benefit performance for Newtown Youth Services and Newtown Parks & Recreation. The concert will be at Dickinson Park Pavilion on Elm Drive in Newtown, on Friday, July 21.

Who is Playback? The answer is Newtown’s own modern rock group whose members include lead singer and guitarist, Richard Donnelly; guitarist Joshua Swetts; David Goodwick on bass; and percussionist Jason Hiruo.

In addition to this scheduled event, the group will celebrate the release of its new CD Urban Lullaby, on August 3 at Colorado Brewing and Trading Company in CityCenter Danbury. Festivities will begin at 8 pm that night, with free admission.

One year in the making, the new CD boasts an impressive contribution to the world of music. During a recent interview percussionist Jason Hiruo stated that even though the album is completed, band members are always working on new ideas.

“What we do before we start rehearsal is, we begin with an open jam session. Joshua or I will start with a riff or Dave will start with a baseline. Then everyone will find their own part, and just create something,” Hiruo stated.

As one of Playback’s newest members (singer and guitarist Donnelly has also joined the band within the last year), Hiruo is trying to cultivate his passion for music in addition to being a Newtown High School English teacher.

When asked how he juggles his many responsibilities Hiruo commented, “It just comes down to time management and priorities. Since we [band members] all have careers, we’re flexible. We all accommodate each other.”

Hiruo recalled that while in college, his love of literature and music led to the blending of his two passions.

“I majored in English, because I love literature,” he said. “Music and literature go hand in hand. Poetry became lyrics for me.”

In poetry class he would be inspired by class discussions and upon returning home, would write a poem, turn in into lyrics, and complete it as a song.

“…that song would turn into music, and that music would turn into a band,” recalled Hiruo, who believes personal drive is a key element in helping him manage his busy schedule. He credits fellow band member David Goodwick with providing him the sound advice: “Don’t ask for everything, because you’re going to get it.” And that is exactly what is happening for Playback.

“Everything is starting to fly,” Hiruo indicated, “from CD promoters calling to picking up gigs.”

As for Playback, while the official release date for Urban Lullaby is the August release party next month in Danbury, CDs should be available next week on Amazon.com and at larger music and bookstores within the area.

The rapidly successful band now looks toward the future: concerts to be performed and songs to be written. The future begins July 21 with the benefit concert in Newtown.

More information about Playback can be found at the band’s website, www.playback-music.com.

Admission for “Music Under The Stars” is $5 per person, and the event is open to all ages. The local band Sci-Fi Lullaby will also be performing Friday night.

Gates open at 7:30 and the music is scheduled to run from 8 to 10 pm. In the event of bad weather, Newtown Parks & Rec will have an announcement on its answering machine by late afternoon; call 270-4335 if the weather is questionable.

(Christian Villodas is a junior at Newtown High School, and writes for the school’s newspaper, The Hawkeye.)