By Noelia Hobeika

Swine Flew, the name of the show presented by Philosoraptor in Lunt Basement truly did make the crowd forget about the epidemic. A beautiful mix between the Arcade Fire and the Walkmen with a touch of folk, had spirits uplifted all in no time. Peter Sturtevant opened for Philosoraptor with the moving sound of the mandolin and joined the band for their opening song. Far from the cliché group of instruments, Philosoraptor proved a sophisticated command of their ensemble which included an electric violin, drums, various guitars, a tambourine and even piano in some songs. “There is no weak link in the band” says Philosoraptor’s electric violin player Ethan Joseph.

Jazz, funk, folk, alternative, and rock are all part of the band’s inspirations which is perhaps the key to their eclectic and rich tunes. Daniel Harvester—singer/songwriter and guitar/piano player—sang with ease and humoured the audience between songs: “You guys are courageous, coming down here in a crowded place with the flu flying around!” Daniel’s brilliantly unusual voice delivered catchy, quirky lyrics between captivating instrumental interludes. The crowd was won over from the start, and the band’s faithful followers did not fail to show enthusiasm.

Philosoraptor may be, unfortunately, Haverford’s best kept secret. With no MySpace or Facebook page, the only way to enjoy the band’s music is to go to their occasional concert. This, however, brings a new dimension to their live performance as it can be seen as almost a privilege to assist to their show. Indeed, this privilege is confirmed by the quality of the music, the guarantee of a good night, and the approachability of the band’s members. Most importantly, the sheer pleasure of performing was written all over the band’s five faces and, in turn, reverberated onto the audience in the form of positive vibrations. Not afraid of eye contact, Dan, Ben, Ethan, Sameer, and Jonathan in some way amplified the audience from dutiful extra to striking co-star. And we are thankful.

With more advertising and the right connections, there is no doubt that Philosoraptor could go a long way. That being said, beauty lies in the fact that I am not certain whether they would want to take it any further. Their simplicity of character is what makes this band quite unique; this type of natural aura should not be toyed with. They are Haverford’s treasure and maybe it should stay that way.

Expecting a great story about how the name was chosen and how the band formed, I was quite disappointed when the members were fuzzy about the details. Ethan recollected something about an index card for the name and Jonathan explained that different members joined at different times, that it was really just Ben and Dan at the start. However, I believe it is this honest, unpretentious nature—both on and off-stage—that ties the musicians together, enabling them to share the most casual of interactions while performing.

As the show came to an end and the stage was cleared, the Famous Five blended right into the crowd, back to friends and girlfriends, and enjoyed an ordinary Friday night. It is refreshing to know that a love for music, solid friendships, and the Haverford atmosphere can create such a band where styles are merged to perfect harmony.

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