While many bands brand themselves with political banners in
light of current events, a lesser known band seeks to shed light on
less publicized issues.
In an effort to join this musical bandwagon of the day’s
unresolved issues, The Apex Theory will perform today at
UCLA’s Awareness 2005, an event hosted by the Armenian
Students Association in conjunction with other student and
non-student groups to educate the community about historical and
current political and social issues ““ specifically acts of
genocide.
“We want to wake up UCLA for the half hour that
we’re there,” said bassist David Hakopyan.
“Hopefully the students will get a sense for a different type
of rock. Maybe a few kids out of those walking by will listen to
this new music, and it’ll hit a new idea in their heads. This
music is about pushing forward, being a catalyst toward waking
up.”
Hakopyan, Art Karamian (guitar, vocals) and Sammy Watson (drums)
said they identify with the cause of the heavily debated Armenian
Genocide and feel passionately about the opportunity to present all
the issues that will be demonstrated at Awareness 2005.
“Bottom line, this isn’t only about the Armenian
Genocide,” Hakopyan said. “This is about all kinds of
different injustices that have happened globally. I also feel for
these other causes, be it the Jews, the Sudanese or the Native
Americans.”
This politically conscious band has been on the L.A. music scene
for more than six years. The Apex Theory has performed primarily
local shows and was on 2002’s Ozzfest lineup.
Since the departure of their lead singer, guitarist Art Karamian
has taken up the vocals, and the reformed three-piece
Armenian-American rock group has evolved into a more progressive,
abstract sound derived from their global and alternative music
influences. They will play material from their latest self-released
EP, “intheskyissomethingwatching.”
“The music Apex is going to play will attract quite a
crowd. Hopefully, once the music draws them in, the students could
check out the booths (of the organizations sponsoring the show) and
see what they’re all about,” said UCLA Armenian
Students Association President Raffi Kassabian.
While feeding young minds isn’t entirely what The Apex
Theory has on their agenda, it is definitely a part of heralding
the wake-up call they want their music to generate.
“One thing good about (Awareness 2005) is a push away from
the social decadence of whatever is on the media today,”
Hakopyan said. “We’re completely losing sight of being
human beings, (and) doing these events right now might incite some
thought.”
Thus, Apex sheds the rock ‘n’ roll image in favor of
a more substantive goal.
“We don’t want to get all grandeur about this and
say, “˜We will lead this riot!'” Hakopyan said.
“But the good thing about making loud noise like this is that
some people listen, and this gives us a platform and a forum, and
it makes us feel better about it at the end of the day.”
Similar goals shared by Awareness 2005 and Apex make for the
perfect marriage between the music and the message. Diverging from
rock glamour and the popularity of mainstream news issues is the
way by which these groups together want to generate thought.
“Our goal is to make the UCLA community aware of things
going on in the world today and how the past has made an impact on
us,” Kassabian said. “We saw so many genocides in the
20th century and it seems like it’s not coming to an end. We
continue to see them today in Sudan, for example. Sadly enough,
most people don’t even know what’s going on in
Sudan.”
The Armenian Students Association will also host a series of
events in the coming days, some in conjunction with other student
groups. The organization’s second annual Silent March will
take place on April 24, the widely recognized date of the Armenian
Genocide. There will be a discussion panel on genocide denial on
Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Kerckhoff Grand Salon. Topics of
discussion will include the Armenian Genocide, the Jewish
Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, and the current crisis in Sudan.
Professors from all over California are invited to speak.
“There has been a lot of wrong in this world,”
Hakopyan said. “And chances are we’re not going to make
it right. But we can be aware of it.”