Campus rock band Great Day for a Race made noise and delighted fans last Tuesday night at Cholmondley's. The band was one of many acts performing at a coffeehouse sponsored by Students for Environmental Action, also featuring improv troupe Bad Grammer. The eclectic quintet, led by singer and guitarist Jason Prapas '06-whose face was partially hidden for most of the show by a brown wool hat-captivated the overflowing crowd. Great Day's lineup was rounded out by drummer Brian Schon '06, guitarist Ryan Pressman '06, saxophonist Richard Frank '06 and bassist Mayank Puri '08, the most recent addition to the band.

The audience was visibly and audibly impressed by Great Day's set-so much so that following their intended final song, the band was enticed back on stage by the crowd's thunderous demands for an encore. One audience member was even overheard publicly proclaiming the quintet as "the best rock band at Brandeis." For their last song, the band surprised the crowd by breaking out a cover of the Violent Femmes' 1983 hit "Blister in the Sun." Great Day's main set featured a number of original, rhythm-driven tunes like "Stoplight" and "Anymore."

While Great Day for a Race's sound can be compared to retro-rockers like The Strokes and The Killers, Frank's saxophone lines set the group apart from its most apparent influences. If only for this reason, the group's tone may remind some listeners of jam-band-influenced pop-rockers like O.A.R.

It was clear Tuesday night that the five members of Great Day for a Race know exactly what they're doing. While some of their songs blended together, lacking distinct-enough melodies from tune to tune, the band's talent, energy and stage presence was more than enough to keep the attention of a Chum's crowd who never seemed ready to let the band leave the stage. If the performance was any indication, the Brandeis community has good reason to be proud of this homegrown quintet.

For more information about Great Day for a Race, as well as free songs available for download, visit Gdfar.com.