KSU welcomed the Von Grey band on Sunday, Aug. 10 in Bailey Performance Center as a part of a back to school celebration. Kennesaw students, adults and families enjoyed the concert.
Von Grey is an Atlanta based band consisting of four siblings, Annika, Fiona, Kathryn and Petra Von Grey. All the sisters are classically trained and play a variety of instruments. Annika, the lead singer, also plays the keyboard and violin. Fiona plays the guitar, Kathryn plays the cello and mandolin and Petra plays the keyboard and drums.
Von Grey is known for their alternative- folk sound. In the past three years the band has released two EPs. Currently they are completing a tour on the east coast. Part of the tour includes a performance at Kennesaw State University.
Part of the concert featured a performance from the KSU Student Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. According to the KSU website the Orchestra includes both music and non-music majors. The students commonly perform a wide range of music and have previously worked with musicians such as The Who.
During a pre-concert interview with Annika and Fiona Annika said the performance with the orchestra was a “trial run” for the band. The Von Grey vocalist also said the band is constantly evolving and in the future they hope to shift their sound to more electronic music. The band hopes to release another EP in 2015.
Von Grey opened the concert with an upbeat piece titled “Come On” from their first, self-titled EP. Following the opening, the band performed a song named “Upset Me” from the same album. The performance quickly shifted into music that Annika Von Grey described as “angsty”. When introducing the more emotional pieces such as “Sara” and “At Night” Annika shared personal stories from which the band draw inspiration. Annika and Fiona write the majority of the songs.
Before a short intermission Annika Von Grey introduced the KSU Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Continuing the concert the band played songs such as “Take Me Down” and a few other pieces from the musically lighter EP “Awakening”. Von Grey also addressed issues such as deforestation, which Annika described as important to the sisters. The song addressing this issue is titled “Ashes”. The KSU Orchestra and Wind Ensemble joined Von Grey in the performance of “Ashes”. The next song performed is named “My Reflection”. While adding more synthetic elements Von Grey also performed this song with the support of the Orchestra. The concert finale was a piece titled “Death”. Featuring strong percussion and leading violin the KSU Orchestra also played this piece.
“The KSU Orchestra is quick at learning their part. They added a nice part of symphonic drama” said Annika Von Grey about working with the student Orchestra. According to Annika, Von Grey will return to KSU Jan. 8, 2015 to perform with the orchestra again.
