Tub O' Joy is quite possibly the most unique musical act at Tufts. "We draw on so many traditions and so many styles. We adopt jazz songs, blues songs, funk songs, and rock songs. We play songs that were written 75 years ago and songs that we wrote a month ago," drummer and lead vocalist Phil Erner said. "Playing from so many different categories makes it interesting."
The group - which has mistakenly been referred to as Sack O' Fun and Pot O' Love - includes Worcester native and senior bassist Seth Kaufman and guitarist Rob Bellinger, a junior from Queens. Erner, a recent graduate hailing from just outside Albany, rounds out the trio
The group formed when Kaufman, Bellinger, and Erner lived in Metcalf Hall two years ago. Kaufman and Erner were roommates, and Bellinger lived down the hall. "Rob and Phil jammed together in our room," Kaufman explained. "I was at my computer - I'm always at my computer - when I turned around and said 'you could use a bassist,' so Rob took out his extra [bass] guitar and taught me how to play 'Fortunate Son.'" The three have been playing together ever since.
The group's focus is on all varieties of blues, inspired by Professor Michael Ullman's "History of the Blues" class, which both Bellinger and Erner have taken. The group plays music ranging from a Sonny Rollins cover, to original blues and blues-funk compositions, and also samples "more active funk" like the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
"We may be the only band at Tufts that plays the blues, and we are definitely the only band that swears by the blues," Bellinger said.
Bellinger has seven guitars and two basses - he claims to have purchased many from eBay at an average cost of $145.97 each. With so many instruments, many of the group's songs are based on the distinctive sound of a particular guitar. Their equipment also includes a 1970s boom box, on which they record every practice and performance. Later the band members listen to each recording to note areas in need of improvement. They also have the Tub-mobile, Erner's yellow Geo Tracker which uncomfortably fits the band and its equipment.
Tub O' Joy considers itself one of campus' more serious bands. Since its first official performance last year at the Carmichael kickoff party, it has performed on-campus several times. This year the trio has played eight gigs, including two shows at Hotung and one at the Naked Quad Run. The three enjoyed the show despite their limited performance space.
"Because it was small, we got to talk to people," Bellinger said.
Tub O'Joy's favorite show was this year's first Hotung performance. The group didn't advertise much, but when it began its set, something unexpected happened: "a bunch of people walked in who didn't know who we were and started dancing." Bellinger said.
The group was also featured on WMFO's The Mikey Dee show, and even had a blues jam with Rabbi Jeffery Summit. "He played the backup [guitar] and I played the lead." Bellinger said. Kaufman later saw Summit, who expressed his wish to play with the band again.
"At every show we touch at least one person," Bellinger joked.
The band members do concur: a Res Life barbeque, for which the group had not practiced, was their worst performance. "We were often out of synch, sometimes even playing different songs," Erner said.
The group claims to thrive on audience reaction: "You listen to a recording and when someone enters the room, you can hear we start playing better," Kaufman said.
Tub O' Joy is currently recording a professional-quality demo. The band plans to distribute it to bars and clubs around Boston and New York - it remains optimistic because, according to Bellinger, "there's no music for drinking like the blues."
The trio encourages Tufts students to support campus bands. Bellinger summed it up this way: "When you've got nothing to do and you see a flyer go, it's not going to ruin your life."
For more information about Tub O' Joy and upcoming shows visit Tubojoy.com
