The Sweet Repose

Students at the University Park were treated to a live concert when Huntington Beach-based band The Sweet Repose stopped by to put on a show during University hour as part of Associated Students, Incorporated's U-Rock live outdoor concert series last Tuesday.

The Sweet Repose was the third concert for this quarter's U-Rock lineup. Previous U-Rock artists featured throughout the quarter were Marae and MayDay! MayDay!.

The Sweet Repose's band members Tommy Miller, on lead vocals, and bassist Greg Marony performed an acoustic set of about nine songs.

For Miller and Marony, The Sweet Repose has been years in the making.

"Greg and I have been friends for a very long time. In 7th grade we had our first venture into rock n' roll as a punk band where Greg was the singer and I played drums," said Miller. "After 12 drummers and a few name changes we became The Sweet Repose."

Miller kicked off the performance by thanking Cal Poly for allowing the band to play on campus.

The Sweet Repose, whose musical influences range from Death Cab For Cutie to The Beatles, performed songs off of their second EP "Our Hands Are Stained."

The band's sound has been compared to that of The Police, Dashboard Confessional and Jimmy Eat World, to name a few.

Members of The Sweet Repose are keeping busy with their latest project.

"Expect a full length [album] out next spring. (...) It will be glorious," said Miller.

The Bronco Events and Activities Team, which is overseen by ASI, hosts numerous events throughout the school year, which include concerts such as the U-Rock shows.

"We do a lot of research [before we book a band]," said Karlo Arenas, Programs and Marketing Development assistant for ASI. "We have a committee that looks through all the demos [that we get] and make sure that we have quality music coming to our campus."

ASI B.E.A.T. seems to have done just that when they booked The Sweet Repose, which has been referred to by the Orange County Register as "one of Orange County's best bands."

The U-Rock series allows students a chance to learn about new artists and bands by bringing the music directly to campus, which is exciting for music aficionados. - The Poly Post

Any opportunity to see the Sweet Repose is a good one.

So when one of Orange County's best bands takes the stage at Coast 2 Coast Inline Hockey Center tonight, expect material from the Sweet Repose's recently released "Our Hands Are Stained" EP to be on the musical menu.

But strong songs and the collective talents of singer-guitarist Tommy Miller, bassist Greg Marony and drummer Drew Martin won't be the only elements fueling the show. The Huntington Beach trio is playing on a bill to raise funds for Miller's girlfriend, 21-year-old Caitlin Cutt, an Orange Coast College student who suffers from severe pulmonary stenosis and is facing heart surgery.

"We've been friends since junior high – about 10 years – and been dating for three," Miller said.

Cutt had to drop out of her college classes this semester because of her medical condition. In a phone interview this week, Miller said a number of other factors including the death of Cutt's mother two years ago have also made the battle a difficult one.

"Basically she's had a problem with her heart her whole life; she has (recently) developed a condition where her heart gets tired. She needs to get it fixed and has no money to get it done," Miller said.

Several friends of Miller and Caitlin have been writing press releases, sending out e-mails and getting the word out via MySpace and other online resources about coming out to Coast 2 Coast skating rink in Huntington Beach tonight for a great cause.

"I'm good friends with Caitlin and Tommy," said David Hollingsworth, a student at UCI who is helping organize the benefit concert so that Miller can spend his time with Cutt.

"A month ago or so when we learned she would need a procedure and financial help, we had some bake sales and started organizing this concert," Hollingsworth said.

All proceeds from the show will go toward Cutt's medical care. In addition, money from Sweet Repose CD and food sales will also go toward Cutt's medical expenses. - The Orange County Register