Museums

The guys in the band will make beautiful music together one last time

Troy L. Smith

Posted August 14, 2009

Metromix

Being in a rock band is a lot like dating. Musical soul mates who are trying their darnedest to fulfill their dreams together experience a lot of ups and downs.

"It's like you've got five girlfriends," says Museums bassist Vincent Roselli, 25, of Rochester, a founding member of the local band. After two years of making some of the catchiest pop-rock tunes Rochester has seen, Roselli and his bandmates have called it quits. Though, they're not following the traditional rules of a breakup.

Museums has been inactive for several months now, but its former members maintain close friendships to this day. And even though most of the guys have moved on to other things, they plan on having Museums go out with a bang.

The band will play one final show on Friday, Aug. 14, at The Club at Water Street. "It's definitely sweet, not bitter," Roselli says. "The band's splitting up, but it's all been positive. It's never been in a bad light. And all the way through the end we want to keep it in that vein."

In fact, every member that's ever been in Museums (10, to be exact) will play during the final show. Some will even bring their new projects with them. Original guitarist Joey Arena is now fronting Youngbloods, former Museums drummer Devan Bentley currently plays in Such Gold, and lead singer Zachary Tyler now heads up The Navigator. Each of those bands will open for Museums.

One of the night's highlights is sure to be the return of original frontman Travis Rankin, who left the band and was replaced by Tyler shortly after Museums released its debut EP, Can We Meet In The Middle, in spring 2008.

"I remember the first time we got together and were discussing music and when we started recording the album. It was amazing," recalls the 28-year-old Rankin. "I wish I could have done it a lot longer."

Rankin was the driving force behind Museums when the band formed in August 2007 as a project built on positivity and friendship. Nothing captures that spirit more than the group's debut. Can We Meet In The Middle features upbeat tracks like "Come Over Baby, So We Can Be As Loud As We Want To" and "Let's Pack Our Bags and Leave," songs driven by Rankin's strong vocals and the unity of young friends growing together musically.

Though the EP had only six songs, the remaining band members went on to record six more unreleased tracks with Tyler. Those songs, along with several remixes, will be given away for free when the guys all come together one last time on Aug. 14.

"It's gonna be nice to all be together again," Arena says. "I think we're trying to be friends with benefits now. You know how relationships go."