Photo Series: BĀDPHAYÁK roars into semester with jam session

BĀDPHAYÁK, one of Grinnell College’s most popular student bands, kicked off the second week of classes with an open rehearsal and jam session in Bucksbaum Center for the Arts on Sunday, Jan. 28. The band members, which includes string, brass, percussion and vocal musicians, have high aspirations for their upcoming music-making this semester. Next up? Performances and recording sessions.

Band leader Phukao Prommolmard `24.5, in playful fashion, points to the camera with drumsticks in hand on Sunday, Jan. 28 in Bucksbaum Center for the Arts. BĀDPHAYÁK held an open band practice as it gears up for an eventful semester with performances and recording sessions on the horizon.The band, one of the largest student music groups on campus, incorporates brass and string instrumentals with piano, rhythm section and vocalists. From left to right, the band members pictured are Maddie Church `27 (violin), Collin Thomas-Green `26 (piano), Hayden Suarez-Davis `25 (audio production), Renzo Iurino `27 (violin), Fui Hawsatitam `27 (trumpet), Noah Tsukuda `27 (saxophone) and Benjamin Sheeley `26 (trombone).After former foundational members graduated, BĀDPHAYÁK reached out to new student musicians to fill departed helms — Keely Yeager `27 now plays bass guitar, an instrument previously plucked by Kaitlin Michaels `23 and Prommolmard.The band added string instrumentalists recently, with violinists Church (left) and Iurino (right), who bring a new sound and energy to the group.Thomas-Green `26 watches Prommolmard as he plays a chord on piano.From left: Iurino, Prommolmard, Ryleigh Hayworth `25, Sheeley, Sophie Youngdahl `24, Hawsatitam and Tsukuda listen to a recording of a song before practicing it.Tsukuda croones on the saxophone.Church holds her violin between songs.From left: Thomas-Green and Prommolmard match tempos on the piano and drums.Tsukuda plays a solo during the band’s rehearsal.Hawsatitam places his fingers on the trumpet pads.Guitarist Ian Macdonald `25.5 shreds notes on the guitar that are so earth-shattering they shake the camera.From left: Church, Suarez-Davis and Iurino share a moment between songs.