Underground Sound

By Max Orenstein
Collegian Reporter
September 26, 2007

Artist: Raise Up Roof Beams

A few months ago, singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens wrote and posted an essay online about a phenomenon he called “Friend Rock.” Stevens complained about feeling obligated to go see terrible bands perform because he has acquaintances that are musicians in these bands.

“Friend Rock” is a lot less painful when you enjoy the music that your friends create. For the last few years, I’ve traveled to coffee shops, municipal buildings and various campus basements all over central Pennsylvania to see my friends in Raise Up Roof Beams perform. There have been no feelings of obligation.

Raise Up Roof Beams is a folk outfit that formed back in 2003 when lead singer/guitarist Nathan Robinson and bassist Drew Hermeling collaborated in a Messiah College dorm room. Local drummer Harrison Gordoner was recruited shortly after. The band recorded five songs that they released as The Ezekiel Demo in 2004. Raise Up Roof Beams continued to perform as a trio until Robinson left to study abroad in Spain, where he wrote most of the band’s debut full-length album, Fingers and Photons, self-released in 2006. Upon Robinson’s return, the band picked up multi-instrumentalist Justin Arawjo (banjo, melodica, slide guitar, accordion and musical saw). Hermeling left the band and was replaced by keyboardist Allan Carroll. Kelly Musser was picked up from another local band, The Rainy Janes, to fill in on bass. Raise Up Roof Beams currently functions as a five-piece and released its second full-length this year, Oh, Great Paradox.

Raise Up Roof Beams draws inspiration from Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, The Decemberists and Neutral Milk Hotel. However, they still create a unique, emotional brand of folk-rock full of existential lyrics and lush musicianship. Gordoner says, “We try to do a good job at making some aspect of our show enjoyable for everyone. Nathan [Robinson] writes some really deep, intelligent lyrics, but at the same time, we like to play grooves that are upbeat and dancy. Some people really like our music for the instrumentation we bring out.”

Having toured all over the East Coast and Midwest, Raise Up Roof Beams are seasoned veterans of the road. A cult following for the band has developed right at home. Gordoner confesses, “There are a lot of really great kids in the area who come out-it’s always fun to play a local show.”

Raise Up Roof Beams’ future is unclear, but the band isn’t worried. “We are all such good friends that we just want to continue to play together. We love making music together, and the fact that other people enjoy it is just a bonus. If a label were to pick us up, that would be awesome, but we will continue to do what we are doing until then.”

They do have four shows coming up in the next month. Although there aren’t any dates scheduled at the moment, Raise Up Roof Beams make relatively frequent visits to Philadelphia. You can check out the band at raiseuproofbeams.com or on the band’s myspace page at myspace.com/raiseuproofbeams. Stevens has got it all wrong. When it comes to Raise Up Roof Beams, “Friend Rock” is the best thing to come out of Central Pennsylvania since Poison.

orensteinm1@lasalle.edu