destroy the boy

As my eyes adjusted to the dimmed lighting in TNT’s Bar & Grille in Clinton Township, a sudden rush of music hit my ears. It became audible, defined by punk beats, pop rock guitar riffs, and a powerful voice led by one of the most charismatic stage presences I have ever seen. On October 29th, 2009, I was lucky enough to witness the filming of Sponge’s new music video Destroy the Boy. The first scene captured a ring of young teenagers standing in unity around the lead singer, beating their fists into the air like a pulse. Each of them was singing the lyrics and straining their necks, refusing to break eye-contact with their commander. I was stunned at the adrenaline rush. By Amanda Redwine • Photography by Kuba Ingram

Surrounding me, a camera crew searched for a perfect shot. The director of the video, Skip Sinclair, stood out in particular. I watched as Skip motionlessly concentrated on capturing the passion carried by the musicians. The emotion was impossible to ignore. Hope filled everyone in the room.

The Detroit-based Sponge has come a long way since 1995’s “Rotting Piñata”, which contained heavy singles such as “Plowed” and “Molly (Sixteen Candles).” During their prime, Sponge toured with Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Live, participated in Lollapalooza, and even performed at Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1997. Unfortunately, their early success did not last long. Sponge faced a rocky journey through band members and record labels for over a decade. Now, the line up consists of Vinnie Dombroski (vocal), Andy Patalan (guitar), Kyle Neely (guitar), Tim Krukowski (bass), and Billy Adams (drums).

Sponge’s perseverance through misfortune is amplified in their new EP and single “Destroy the Boy.” The band has transformed from alternative grunge to pop punk with anthems of revolution in our society. Vinnie, the primary artery through the band’s career, explained how this song goes beyond angst against authority. The lyrics were inspired by an event that happened in Chicago involving a young adolescent killed by another. Vinnie’s words “In a world that acts like it don’t know you, you look for angels in the streets.” portray what our society has come to, and what needs to be changed. To highlight this message, the numerous scenes of the video focused on the youth singing the words to “Destroy the Boy.” A variety of students made the impact of the lyrics powerful and relatable.

Such scenes were produced seamlessly. Vinnie pumped up the crowd. Then, Skip took control as Vinnie nodded with a smile from a distance. The band listened to the director’s vision, just as the director favored the band’s input. Andy Patalan suggested a magnificent shot of having a young boy sing the words, while the others made a collage of fists around his face. This inspired Skip to create a scene where two boys face each other with their foreheads’ pushing back and forth. It was incredible to see a large amount of creativity working together in one collaborative effort.

As I watched the last scenes of Destroy the Boy come to a wrap, the memorable melody now caught in my head, I thought about the ‘new’ Sponge. No, it’s not the original gritty sound of the nineties, but it is so much more. The sound has enough pop to make it catchy but enough punk to make it bite. This band’s comeback has been long awaited, and “Destroy the Boy” could pull them out of the dust.

Introspective on Sponge’s bright future, I have become a fan. I encourage anyone to catch Sponge on tour for a show that will not soon be forgotten. Also, watch for Sponge’s new music video Destroy the Boy due out of postproduction in the mid-November.

As my eyes adjusted to the dimmed lighting in TNT’s Bar & Grille in Clinton Township, a sudden rush of music hit my ears. It became audible, defined by punk beats, pop rock guitar riffs, and a powerful voice led by one of the most charismatic stage presences I have ever seen. On October 29th, 2009, I was lucky enough to witness the filming of Sponge’s new music video Destroy the Boy. The first scene captured a ring of young teenagers standing in unity around the lead singer, beating their fists into the air like a pulse. Each of them was singing the lyrics and straining their necks, refusing to break eye-contact with their commander. I was stunned at the adrenaline rush.