Members: Juniors Brandon Hagen (vocals and lead guitar) and Mike Cangemi (bass) and seniors Richard Arnold (drums), Drew McDonald (synthesizer and guitar), and Zach Brazao (background vocals and saxophone)
Open Mic Nights at Gates Intermediate School are infamous amongst Scituate students. They take credit for fostering friendships and talents. But mostly, they serve as an embarrassing reminder of all of our awkward early teen years. Fortunately for the boys of No Nada, Open Mic Nights only left positive effects on the group. Since that fateful Open Mic Night in 2007 when the Gates Music Teacher, Ms. Swartz suggested the combination, No Nada has been going strong.
With its modern sound and clever choruses, No Nada falls into the Indie/Alternative Rock category. Wavves, the Arctic Monkeys, and Earth, Wind and Fire all serve as inspirations to the young artists. The songs that are best known throughout No Nada’s fan-base are “Indie Kids” and “Catch 22.” Cangemi notes that, “Brandon and I come in with songs we’ve made up and then we all contribute to making it an actual song.” The collaborative efforts of the band are apparent throughout their original and unique sound.
As far as upcoming shows go, curious fans can check out the No Nada Facebook page or their website, nonada.bandcamp.com for the latest.
There seems to be some tension amongst the members in regards to the future of the band. Cangemi claims the ultimate goal of the band is to get signed on a record deal, while Hagen wishes to shift the band’s focus to “synth-dance-opera-pop” music. Either way, they’re hoping they don’t end up like the “sad, old drunk men,” who populate the local venues they play at.