Meet Narrow/Arrow, a band from Mansfield that describes themselves as an “emo band with a pop agenda and a punx mentality.” The trio prides themselves in creating original music that aims to rekindle the music scene in Mansfield.
The band’s front-man with guitars and vocals said Mansfield is the ideal location for a vital music scene. “It’s a crossroads for bands from Columbus and Cleveland. We want to build the scene off people travelling through from show to show. It’s (Mansfield’s music scene) really in the process of reinventing itself,” said Nicolas.
Nicolas works as a barista at Relax, It’s Just Coffee where he also works to offer small bands from the area a venue to play original music. The coffee shop hosts a variety of shows almost weekly. Many of the bands playing are from small towns in the Midwest and Richland County. His home in Mansfield doubles as the venue Bonfire Nation.
Music has been part of Nicolas’s life since he was a young boy growing up in Michigan. He said he remembers watching “Back to the Future” and falling in love with the scene in which Michael J. Fox plays guitar to “Johnny B. Goode.”
“I asked for a guitar that Christmas. I was 5 years old. I lived in the country, so there was not really anything to do. I would go home, watch some TV, play guitar, maybe take a break, have dinner, and play guitar again,” Nicolas remembered. “I started a band with my brother when I was in fifth grade. Later, I got a job – so I started buying my own gear,” he added.
During his senior year of high school, he tacked on an independent study in preparation for applying to Berklee College of Music in Boston. The independent study allowed him to perfect the art of playing guitar, and he was also learning how to build guitars.
He ultimately was accepted into Berklee’s music program with a major in Music Therapy. However, after attending four semesters on a student loan, he dropped out.
“I learned more about myself than I did about music. I learned what I wanted to do with music, really. I love music when it’s academic, but I love it when it’s not, too. I want to let it flow, I don’t want to look at patterns,” said Nicolas.
After dropping out, he was faced with a decision. He could either live in Boston working at a coffee shop, where the expense of living was high. Or he could have lived with his parents back in Michigan. Or he could move to Mansfield with his brother and sister-in-law. He chose the latter.
After landing a job with Relax, he started Narrow/Arrow in June 2013 with his friends, Mark Canole and Jonathan Hape. The band incorporates some of Nicolas’s lyrics he wrote while still in Berklee, and are currently trying to incorporate newer ideas. Their music has been described as math rock – which is a rhythmically complex and guitar based style of alternative rock.
Although the band has a variety of individual musical influences, one they can all agree on is American Football, a band based out of Champaign, Illinois. One of Nicolas’s most significant influences is Erik Mongrain, a French Canadian who is known for his acoustic guitar-tapping technique.
“When I watched his video called Air Tap, I was inspired. I didn’t have an acoustic guitar at the time, so I just tried it on my electric. After figuring some things out, I just thought to put an electric on a piano stand and clamp it down with a C-clamp,” said Nicolas. He places an electric guitar on a piano stand, holds it down with a C-clamp, leaves the guitar in open tuning, and taps – while singing and playing another guitar that’s strapped onto his shoulders. He plays the second guitar for a lower registered sound.
Each member of the band has similar interests in music. In fact, Mark Canole, the bassist, also drums for Mahoney & the Pliers. Jonathan Hape, Narrow/Arrow’s drummer, is also involved with other musical endeavors like Room & Board out of Columbus. Nicolas plays guitar for Mahoney & the Pliers and is able to use his interest in Music Therapy by teaching music to youth through Pioneer Performing Arts Academy. He has taught there for three semesters.
Narrow/Arrow tries to play as often as possible wherever they are able. The band will join The Up All Nights and EYE for the July 25 installment of the Downtown Mansfield Inc. Final Friday Concert Series. On Aug. 29, they will play during the Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus.
For booking or to hear more of their music, visit their bandcamp page and their Facebook page. Below is Narrow/Arrow’s music video to “Lukalyke” shot at Bonfire Nation.
