“Potter” enthusiasts create music inspired by wizardry

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:16:19 GMT

By Claudia Morales/Section Editor

photo illustration by Claudia Morales

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Passion is, by definition, the concept of loving something so wholly that it becomes a devotion of sorts. It has the potential to exist wherever the human consciousness is found - in the workplace, in school, in sports fanaticism and the nerdiest of fandoms. It can exist, but it seldom does. As such, on the rare occasion that passion thrives amidst apathy and mediocrity, it becomes a valuable thing. A prime example of passion is found in Wizard Rock (also called “Wrock”): an entire subgenre- hundreds of bands strong, dedicated to the Harry Potter series. Wrock came to be circa the summer of 2002, the year in which brothers Paul and Joe DeGeorge started up the first-ever band of its kind, Harry and the Potters. They gave their first live performance at a backyard cookout, receiving a positive response. This response was the catalyst for their writing more Potter-themed music, and ultimately, releasing their first album in April 2003. With newfound exposure, they began touring and performing live, releasing their second CD in the summer of 2004. By then, Wrock had earned a spot on the Harry Potter radar. While some Potter-themed songs were performed prior to Harry and the Potters’ emergence, it was this band that launched Wrock into subgenre status with entire bands dedicated to it. More bands began to emerge around 2004, with Harry and the Potters as inspiration. Such bands included The Whomping Willows, The Remus Lupins, Draco and the Malfoys and more, all of which remain popular and active to this day. At the last count, there are over 880 bands that proudly deem themselves Wrock bands (wizrocklopedia.org). Many people may ask of this genre - “What’s the point? Why would you sing about Harry Potter?” The answer is not as simple as the question. In essence, Wrock promotes and celebrates literacy by way of bringing music and literature together. As noble as this goal is, however, Wrock is much more than that. Wrock is an amalgam of the many and varied enjoyable aspects of the Harry Potter series. There are songs about, in honor of and from the perspective of every character imaginable, no matter if it’s the title character or one mentioned in passing at best. Numerous songs reflect emotions readers felt as they read the books. Some of them are perfect testaments to the entire fandom’s feelings towards the series. In Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls’ ‘End of an Era,’ fans are able to reflect on the decade-and-then-some of magic and that era’s end. Wrock bands take the amazing experience of reading books and turn it into a magic beyond any other—music. For the first time in the history of this genre, some will perform in South Florida, at Florida International University’s first ever Yule Ball. Among these will be two of the biggest names in Wrock today: The Remus Lupins, The Parselmouths and the Ministry of Magic. Look for coverage on their performances and the event surrounding them in the Viper Vibe’s next issue.