Oscar Durand

Who is ZOX? I was wondering the same thing until they came to perform at RIT.

An indie band that is signed on to Side One Dummy Records, ZOX has traveled all over the world and has had over ten songs featured on MTV’s Real World, Road Rules, and Maui Fever. Featuring Eli Miller on vocals and guitar, Dan Edinberg on bass, Spencer Swain on violin, and John Zox (no prizes for guessing from where they got their band name) on drums, ZOX got together in 2002 while they were students at Brown University in Rhode Island. What makes ZOX so unique (apart from the lyrics) is its violin player, who rocks out not only as hard, but harder than anyone else. A few tours and three CDs later, the band has managed to attract a decent following online and around the world.

The Rhode Island natives came to the RITz on March 21st as part of CAB’s Friday Night at the RITz event series. ZOX opened with an upbeat song to get the audience moving, and kept up the momentum throughout the entire show. Crowd participation jumped to a whole different level from making the audience clap, sing along, or dance, to even serving the band members drinks. When Miller asked the crowd to get the band beers, a few loyal audience members actually fulfilled Miller’s request, passing the beers to the front and leaving some on the side of the stage. In all honesty, I thought it was weirdly cool yet slightly conceited when ZOX paused their set for a quick second while they quenched their thirst for alcoholic refreshment.

For one night, the RITz gave the vibe of a small, stinky bar that 16-year-olds sneak in to see their favorite band (of course, without the 16-year-olds). There was no surprise that there were a few mosh pits, body surfers, and groupies. The only problem was that it was in the RITz, full of B.O. and the fear of being sucked into the widening mosh pits, but even that could not ruin my impression of the band.

One thing that stood out about ZOX was their lyrics. In one song called “Caroline,” Miller sings, “Sometimes love can be so / sometimes love can be so lonely / sometimes love can be so / sometimes love leaves you alone.” The songs have layers and layers of meaning complemented by sounds, pitches, and melodies from the band.

What I liked about ZOX was their devotion and connection to their fans. ZOX knows that they aren’t anything without their fans, and makes sure to please their audience the best way they possibly can. “All I could see was the first row, but it was enough for me,” said Edinburg, referring to the crowd. After numerous requests from the crowd and screams for an encore, ZOX performed “Eventually,” a crowd favorite, with dim lighting and acoustic sounds, creating an intimate atmosphere. It was far easier for the band to connect to their audience. The Rhode Island natives stepped on crates so that the people in the back could see them rock out, and made themselves available to fans after the show for autographs, pictures, and small conversation. Their devotion to their fans is clearly one reason they have such a large following.

If you would like to know more about ZOX or listen to their music, you can check out their website at http://www.zoxband.com.