bill mcglinn/submitted photoMichael Dunphy
Michael Dunphy, the shaggy-haired, cowboy-boot-wearing junior, gives off a chill vibe but he’s much deeper. He’s articulate and speaks softly when referencing his love of making music.
“[Music should] hopefully give someone shivers down the spine but also give yourself [shivers] when you play it.”
Besides open mic nights on campus, Dunphy’s appeared at Lickity Split on South Street and Whisky Tango where he and a band of friends had a paying gig with their name on display.
He plays for the way it feels, saying, “It doesn’t matter if you make a dollar off it.”
Inspired to pick up guitar at 13 after hearing a Dave Matthew’s Band CD, Dunphy plays by ear.
He only performs covers. “I have tons of music. I love to play but lyrics are the toughest for me,” Dunphy said. It’s hard to believe when he admits to having tons of books filled with his lyrics.
This modest guy wants music to make you blush. He’s been known to jot down words on receipts or a napkin when an idea hits, yet is critical and refuses to play original pieces to a crowd.
Justin Bostwick
Justin Bostwick takes the Jack Johnson vibe and makes it his own.
He writes all his of songs and is the front man for the band Affinity Lost which opened for All Time Low early February at Cabrini. It was the first time the band as a whole played live and has since given them the addiction of performing for a roaring crowd.
“I’m so psyched to record,” Bostwick said. In fact he’s already recorded some songs and plans on hitting the studio this summer. Some of his already recorded pieces were only out of a home studio, yet sounded good enough to be recognized for television. Watch the Real World next season on MTV because it has shown more than an interest in using his songs.
“I called my mom and she didn’t really understand it. Then a few days later she freaked out,” Bostwick said.
It happened in a coincidental fashion. Bostwick’s tracks were online both on his MySpace as well as on the Web site purevolume.com. Days before receiving an e-mail from MTV, he posted his e-mail address on purevolume. There were a lot of formalities before agreement finalizations.
“I thought it was fake for a couple of weeks,” Bostwick added.
To check out his music for yourself visit purevolume.com/JustinBostwick.
Chris Sweeney
Walking into his dorm, Chris Sweeney took off his shirt and began cleaning a buzzer to do some charity work in clipping a friend’s hair.
He may be looked at as Cabrini’s golden boy. After all, he gets good grades and is a star athlete, but he’s also a musician spending hours on end in his recording studio slaving over new tunes.
The conversation ranged from Taco Bell to “dream rock,” his term in describing his new music style.
Coffee shops, malls or wherever he can get time is where he’ll be playing away. Sweeney is no stranger to working functions such as a Catholic Youth Organization, where he performs annually.
Sweeney’s tracks are more mellow and soft, with a heavy influence of Howie Day. However, he’s trying to move in a different direction and “get past the slow guitar stuff.”
Sweeney’s music is free for the public and he wants to get it out there. He now has 20 songs on iTunes.
As he stands shirtless sweeping out hair lodged in the carpet, he recited a line from one of his songs, “I might not be milk but I bet I could do your body good.”
To hear Sweeney’s tracks go to vibe.com/ChrisSweeneyMusic or myspace.com/ChrisSweeneyMusic.
