East Carolinian

Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: staff photo

Lovers of 1990s hits: Look no further.

Assembly Required, a Greenville circuit band, with members from Kinston and G-Vegas alike, bring out the melodic, pop and grunge-induced sounds that generation-Y kids buzzed to in the mid-to-late 1990s.

With a host of influences from Nirvana, Bush, Collective Soul, Green Day, Oasis, Fuel, and even Boyz II Men, Assembly Required draws upon the growing nostalgia from this newly abated era. In doing so, they've found plenty of crowds that have not forgotten any words to songs from the alternative rock genre.

More than just another cover band, Assembly Required has strived to step beyond simple crowd-pleasing songs and have relentlessly worked on original material for their newest EP, Inception, which is to be released on Halloween. Also, a complete LP of original songs is set to release within a month or so.

Band member Robbie Johnson, the only remaining founding member, recalls the steady rise of the band from high school parties to college shows. Their first college show, at Ham's in Greenville, seemed to set the tone as they competed in the Battle of the Bands. Taking second place against the already established band Katharsis, Assembly Required was quite pleased for being first timers.

From then on, the band moved from show to show, having seen both small and large crowds, and even getting to play shows alongside reputable acts such as 40oz., Freedom, Chevelle, Flyleaf, Fuel and Whild Peach (Outcast's backing band).

Although, their highest moment Johnson and member Greg Pollard agree, was getting to play X-Fest 8 in front of thousands.

"There's nothing like feeling the crowd moving to your music," said Pollard, about the show.

Assembly Required is scheduled to play this Halloween at Pirate's Den with Irvine, and again Nov. 1 in Kinston at Grainger Stadium for the Timmy and Hannah benefit concert.

For ticket information on the benefit show, visit timmyandhannah.com, or contact Lynn Hill at 252-560-1181 or Trauma at 252-775-1670.



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools