Home BRU’d Sessions: ZOX

John Zox eats an apple. The drummer’s bites echo around the sound-proofed room in downtown Pawtucket. Spencer Swain takes out a violin and gives it a few strokes with his bow. In the space next door, some band practices their cover of the Beatles’ “Daytripper”, but when we close the door, the sound fades away. We’re alone: three videographers, a photographer, a blogger, and ZOX. This is a reunion. ZOX, a “violin-laced rock band,” was born in Providence in 2002, but for three years—until this morning—these four guys have not picked up an instrument in the same room as one another. There’s a little bit of trepidation as they warm up. Dan Edinberg (bassist, vocalist) perches on an amp, jiggling his leg and tapping a drumstick against the tom he’s clutching. He could be nervous, but the more likely explanation is that he’s a musician and can’t keep himself away from the instrument. “When I recorded this song, I used to smoke,” announces Eli Miller (guitarist, lead vocalist). “Now it’s gonna sound…” he trails off. After all, no one knows how they’re going to sound. There’s laughter and more talk until they launch into “Goodnight”. It sounds good. It sounds better. It’s awesome. Dan joins on back-up; John meets eyes with Spencer, a knowing look and a laugh passing between them as Spencer comes in on violin. It seems like playing together comes back easily, even after years apart. When the song finishes, the Beatles covers begin to seep back under the door, and Eli gives his pronouncement: “That was very…artistic.” He may have meant it euphemistically—maybe they’re still working out some rough parts after literally years apart?—but it sure sounds artistic, put-together, and a great complement to their earlier work. If this is “artistic,” we’ll take it. The band next door has moved on from the Beatles. “Are they playing One Republic right now? Ed Sheeran? I can’t tell the difference,” and Dan sings a lick of “Love Runs Out.” “I think we’re missing the world’s greatest cover band right now,” replies Eli. Perhaps. But no cover can beat the ZOX originals we’re privy to this evening. “Starry Night? Should we do Starry Night?” suggests Eli. Now in the throws of our own private  concert and unable to help ourselves, we tell them we want to hear it.  “We’ll do a shorter version,” he laughs. Yes. They launch into “Starry Night,” a sweet, low-key love song based in Providence. The song is different live, but in a good way. There’s a beautiful silence before the chorus, with just a few taps on the cymbals. John plays lightly but intensely. On his raised platform, he’s watching everything, in tune with his bandmates again. Dan sits next to him on the amp, playing the tom, likewise surveying the reunion. “I don’t think I wanna spend another night with you,” sings Eli during the chorus of “Starry Night.” Luckily for us, these guys do wanna spend another night together. They’re re-reuniting this Saturday, October 11^th at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel for their only show of the year. WBRU is also featuring Home BRU’d bands Neo Nouveau and The Sugar Honey Iced Tea as openers. Get your tickets here or revisit their hits here. -K.S. Also! Check out what members Spencer Swain and Dan Edinberg had to say about their upcoming performance, speculation about grand theft auto, and their time as RI based musicians when they visited us earlier this fall: And just because we love it (and Ben), let’s remember how awesome this was:       Check out the photos below.