Armenian Students' Association to put on its first rock concert and art show
The Armenian Students’ Association will be putting on its first rock concert and art show, titled “Rebirth,” today in the Kerckhoff Grand Salon at 8 p.m.
Courtesy of Raffi Semerdjian
By Michael Palumbo
May 15, 2012 12:03 a.m.
Correction: The original version of this article contained an error. “Dance of the Sevan Fishermen” is one of the songs that Semerdjian will perform.
As a child Daniela Girbal always heard stories about her great-grandparents’ survival during the Armenian genocide of 1915, something that has sparked her appreciation for her Armenian heritage.
Girbal, a third-year political science student and secretary of the Armenian Students’ Association, is working with the cultural committee to organize the group’s first rock show and art exhibition, titled “Rebirth.” The event will feature performances from bands Palm of Granite and Snake Charmer Ensemble.
“We want to recognize that we’re here because we (as a people) survived. We want to make sure we live out who we are with our culture and show others that we’re a force to be reckoned with,” Girbal said.
While the Armenian Students’ Association does advocate recognition of the Armenian genocide, Girbal said the organization is using the rock show to promote a more positive message.
Razmig Sarkissian, a third-year English student and president of the organization, said the event would primarily feature not only UCLA Armenian student groups but also Armenian performers outside of UCLA, such as folk-rock group Palm of Granite.
The art exhibit will feature 15 paintings from various Armenian artists. Sarkissian said the Armenian Students’ Association is intentionally holding this concert after Genocide Awareness Week, which was the last week of April.
“(The show) is called “˜Rebirth’ because it’s coming off of Genocide (Awareness) Week, and we see our culture in a state of rebirth and renaissance, especially since it’s spring,” Sarkissian said.
Raffi Semerdjian, the singer and songwriter of Palm of Granite said that his music is inspired by his Armenian heritage because of the songs he grew up listening to.
“A lot of Armenian songs deal with loss and grievance. (There are) themes of genocide within popular Armenian songs, as well as the songs I write,” Semerdjian said.
While Semerdjian said that the band writes and composes most of its material, the band’s 30-minute set for the rock concert will feature a medley of two popular Armenian dance songs, one called “Tomzara” and the other “Dance of the Sevan Fishermen.” Semerdjian also said that the band added its own spin on the two songs.
“People might not recognize the song when they first hear it. We took a couple of really cute Armenian dance songs and made them darker and more powerful,” Semerdjian said.
The singer also said that by adding more weight to the songs, their underlying messages are more cathartic, especially for an original song called “Home.”
“(“˜Home’) is asking the audience what home means to them. It’s more than just a place … it’s a state of being that we’re all trying to find,” Semerdjian said.
He also said that Palm of Granite’s songs traditionally deal with heavy themes and portray spiritual journeys the band undergoes, but Semerdjian said he also wants people to recognize that the Armenian genocide is only a small part of Armenian history.
“The theme of “˜Rebirth’ is appropriate because when people think of Armenians, all they think about is the genocide. We want people to get away from the idea of mourning and embrace the idea of rebirth and creativity through Armenian music,” Semerdjian said.
