You know that when it comes to dorm rooms, the common consensus is that space is always at a premium. It’s bad enough you have to put aside your dreams of making it big in the music industry, at least while you pursue a degree, but — do you really have to leave behind your beloved guitar too? For the musically inclined students at Connecticut College, the answer is most definitely NO.
We’ve never heard of a student group quite like this one! Over two decades ago, musically inclined Connecticut College students formed MOBROC, or Musicians Organized for Band Rights on Campus – and it’s still going strong! MOBROC members not only have a chance to network with like-minded students and potentially form bands based on these new connections – they also have a fantastic space to jam! Conveniently located right on campus, MOBROC members use an old squash court, “the Barn” to practice, perform, and even store instruments. “The Barn” is complete with a balcony and sound system!
MOBROC has been pumping out the talent in the more than two decades that the student group has been in existence, with bands like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Take Care. Of course, MOBROC members also have plenty of chances to rock out at Conn College events. For a peek inside “the Barn” check out the Student Bands at Connecticut College YouTube video! It’s a good reminder that going away to college doesn’t mean giving up your dreams – it means finding an outlet (or creating one) to fulfill them.
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Tags: campus life, clap your hands say yeah, college extracurricular activities, College Life, conn coll, conn college, connecticut college, dorm life, dorm living, dorm rooms, extracurricular activity, MOBROC, musicians organized for band rights on campus, on campus living, squash court, student groups, the barn
Great to see that this org is still going strong!
It was founded by three students in ’90. Peter Spoerri, Jon Rubin, and myself (Jason Moriber). Jon and I played in bands (I was in The Loud Guys, Jon was in The Violent Burritos), Peter had an interest in the entertainment business track (last I checked he’s producing films). At the time there was zero practice space for bands. We were eventually given access to the music equipment storage room between 12am and 6am. That was one loud room. In parallel the org helped gain permission for bands to play on campus (mostly in dorm entry-rooms) and provided a spotlight on the local talent. Conn was a “closed” campus and there was only one venue to see music, the historic punk/alt club “El ‘N’ Gee Club” in New London. Beyond that there was very little to do. Soon Conn bands were playing almost every weekend somewhere on campus. MOBROC brightened the nightlife of a quiet school and added a verve to the student body; if you started a band there was a place to practice, a place to play, and an audience who wanted to hear your music.
I have to give a shout out to folks like Kieran Mulvaney and Jason Crigler, both were part of the that initial burgeoning MOBROC music scene and continue on (impressively) as career musicians.
Thanks for shining a light on MOBROC!
Awesome — and thank you for sharing a bit about your experience with MOBROC! It sounds like a fantastic group — and definitely unique!