Collegiate Times

“We are awesome,” proclaimed Andy Woodward, philosophy alum and bass guitarist of jazz band, Viben Oodle. Neither modest nor shy of words, Woodward described what can’t be Googled on Oodle and how the band got started.

“We stared about a year and a half ago,” Woodward said.

Parker Simmons, senior horticulture major and drummer for the band said, “Two summers ago we just got together. I knew Andy through some of my friends, and I was in a class with him.”
Woodward nostalgically continued, “We were going to start a video game soundtrack cover band.”

He took a breath, smirked and paused for a moment to think.

“That’s what we were going to do … but found Josh, (Herrington, senior psychology major and alto sax in Viben Oodle) in a VT Jazz Band, who was a singular entity and completely unique.”

By joining musical powers, Woodward, Simmons and Herrington extended higher levels that could not be reached by video game symphonies. The band may have pressed reset for their original game plan; however, their soundtrack was far from game over.

“The video game thing never panned out because when we got together, something completely original blossomed,” Woodward said.

Viben Oodle’s inspiration for their music ranges from Bruce Lee films, books, philosophy and other musicians such as New York jazz guitar player, Kurt Rosenwinkel.
“He’s the man,” Simmons said. “He created his own harmonic language.”

“I get a lot of inspiration for my drumming from other instruments I learned how to play over the years … I actually didn’t start out as a drummer,” he said.

Simmons listed his lineage of instruments: “I played bagpipes and saxophone, so I draw music from anywhere.”

He began playing bagpipes when his neighbor and other people he knew played. “I didn’t question why I wanted to play bagpipes or when I wanted to play sax … after (the bagpipes), I didn’t really understand why I chose to do things … I wanted to get my ideas out and all of these different tools helped me to do that,” Simmons said.

Bass guitar player Woodward also draws from other musical inspirations when composing his signature sound.

“I don’t really listen to other bass players. A lot of my musical ideas come from saxophone players or great composers,” Woodward said.

The band’s sound may have taken time to form, but the band mates for Oodle believe their music is not frugal in regards to fresh sounding electronic jazz jams.

Self-described on MySpace as “cinematic art groove” the band said, “The basis of Viben Oodle is organic chemistry.”

“We have a lot of texture going,” Woodward replied when asked to describe the Viben Oodle sound.

In an attempt to describe “organic” Woodward said, “Our music grows from us.”

“I was just trying to be clever,” Simmons said. “Mechanical would be a really intellectual way … when we are coming up with ideas, it’s not hugely intellectual.”

“We don’t think about it too much,” Woodward said. “We don’t have sheet metal or a projector for the audience … all we have are ourselves. We are just being ourselves and not playing down to the audience.”

Simmons described his version of organic chemistry. “We rely on how the music makes us feel, and when we get bored with ourselves it makes us push more … Chemistry is the way we play and respond to each other … not to say I did well in organic chemistry, but I do well with Viben Oodle’s organic chemistry.”

What is the sound that grows from a compilation of Viben Oodle’s organic chemistry?

“I would say that is closer to groove music of anything … a lot of heavy rhythm,” Simmons said.

The band has performed at places such as The Lyric, She Sha and The Cellar. As for how Blacksburg responds to their music, “The problem isn’t the people enjoying our music, it’s getting people to the venue, and once they are in the venue to get people to us. The inhibitor is getting people to the music,” Woodward said.

While Oodle’s organic chemistry grows in the band, they see themselves growing away from Blacksburg in aspects of their future residences.

Simmons said, “There are a few bands around that we are friends with pretty closely … this area is really small, and everyone knows how to reach a larger audience. You have to find the audience.” He said, “I see us making a move to a place where there are an abundance of likeminded musicians … there are a lot of places that have really organic scenes where there is a huge pool of people who have thirsty ears … there is not quite enough of a draw in this particular area.”

Finally, what’s with the band name, and how is Viben Oodle trying to become a mogul in the Blacksburg music scene?

“I thought a good name for the band would be vive noodle. Like whatever is going on inside our heads is pretty hip … you vibe well off each other and slip the ‘n’ so it’s viben,” Simmons said.
People viben to Oodle can buy CDs sold at their shows.

To constroodle more information on Viben Oodle and their upcoming shows, check them out at www.misconstroodle.com.