Western Courier

Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: The Edge

Media Credit: Adam Sacasa Ag Silver performed a free concert Tuesday behind the Union.

Like many smaller bands that come to Western Illinois University, Ag Silver seems out of place. However, playing in broad daylight at a time still barely considered morning is hardly conducive to an epic rock concert.

Despite the aforementioned circumstances, Ag Silver managed to impress the crowd lightly scattered around the campus mall area behind the University Union yesterday at 11:45 a.m.

Ag Silver played a set of almost exclusively self-written, semi-experimental post punk/alternative rock songs. The band covered The Killers' "Somebody Told Me" in the middle of its set.

Lead singer and keyboardist Jon Ornee evoked a deeper, scratchier Bono, both controlled and highly expressive. Guitar player Chris McKellar played steady power chords interrupted by an occasional burst of energy.

The rhythm section was where Ag Silver set itself apart; bass lines were dynamic and near danceable, telling of their post punk roots. Percussion was the most creative aspect of the show, with one full drum kit and two partial, more creative drum kits set up for simultaneous play.

The band maintained an air of humor about itself, the members never taking themselves too seriously. During the middle of a song of their new EP, the band "Bel-Air"-rolled the crowd, inspired by an Internet meme where a user told an elaborate story on a message board, and instead of ending it, recited the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" theme song.

The concert was used to promote the Blood:Water Mission, an organization intent on bringing clean water by means of digging wells for parts of Africa that desperately need it. Stickers and bottled water was sold to raise funds for the project with 100 percent of the money spent going directly to the organization.

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