By Joe T. O'Connor   joe@rocktownmail.com

Courtesy Photo

Jarrod Smith grew up playing guitar for friends at parties in Bergton, 30 miles northwest of Harrisonburg. Bergton is a small town with a population a little more than 500, and its big event is the annual fair in August.

“It’s the biggest little fair anywhere,” said Smith, who attended the fair every year growing up. “But other than that, there’s not much else to do.”

A small town like Bergton is easy to outgrow. Feeling like he needed a change, Smith left for Richmond after Thanksgiving dinner in 2001. He hasn’t played music in the ’Burg since.

But when he returns this month, it will be with a bang. Smith’s indie rock band Vega is crashing The Pub on Feb. 22, with a sound reminiscent of British rock groups Oasis and Blur.

Inspirations

In 1997, Jarrod Smith, lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the Richmond-based band, graduated from Broadway High School. That was also the year his mother, who taught in the special education program at BHS, died of cancer. But Smith was able to turn the tragedy into an inspiration. “That was basically the emphasis for everything I do,” Smith said.

He started his first band, Soma, while attending Virginia Tech and graduated in 2001 with a degree in geographical information systems. Soma broke up after nine months, but Smith took the experience to Richmond where he began bartending in the Fan district while continuing to play music.

Inside Vega

“We call our music sonic noise rock with melodic vocals,” said Smith. “We’re sort of reminiscent of the Smashing Pumpkins because we really drop the tempo, then build it back up again.”
Smith met Vega drummer Nick Tharpe four years ago, when Tharpe overheard music coming from his downstairs neighbor’s apartment.

“Nick came down to my apartment and said he liked the sound,”said Smith. “And we’ve been playing together ever since. He’s our secret weapon.”

Vega formed in October 2004 when Tharpe brought on the other two members, guitarist Jack Budd and bassist Jay Calabro from VCU.

“VCU is known for its jazz, and since Jay’s a jazz major, hebrings that influence to the stage,” Smith said.

Tharpe is into hip-hop, Smith said, and shows it. “He’s a human drum machine,” said Smith, of Tharpe’s “beat machine-style drumming.”

The band combines an intense style and inspiring lyrics withtheir musical philosophy: “Simplicity reigns supreme.”

“Every bar [in Richmond] is filled with jazz musicians,” said Smith.“It’s a beautiful thing, but a lot of times their music is too complex. When music’s too busy you can lose your mass audience.”