“Are you hungry? There’s a hungry person! I made homemade potato salad,” said Mary Boughan, who drove all the way from Craig, Colo. to participate in mewithoutYou’s potluck dinner before the band’s show on Oct. 10 at the Marquis Theater in Denver.
Boughan said there are many benefits to participating in the band’s potluck dinners. She said she has met many friends who were once strangers and has formed long-lasting relationships.
“It’s called the mewithoutYou Eat Team,” Boughan said. “They asked the folks that listen to them to pitch in and help.”
Greg Jehanian, bass guitarist for mewithoutYou, explained that one of the reasons they have potlucks is to minimize the separation between the band and its fans. The band members don’t want the fans to be too intimidated to talk to them.
“It’s kind of just to make a very organic environment where it’s like we’re all people just hanging out,” Jehanian said. “Let’s eat some food together. Let’s get to know each other. Let’s talk. It’s to create that opportunity so there isn’t that weirdness.”
The potluck strengthened the relationship between the band and its fans.
“I like their lyrics and their music and Ricky’s drumbeats are out of this world,” said Jay Keaveny, a sophomore digital and video art major. “Very original music. They’re really personal and cool with the fans. I do think potlucks are good.”
Other attendees agreed that the potluck was intimate.
“It’s pretty sweet. I like to chill out here with the band. It’s like we’re hanging out with them. I think that’s cool,” said Joe Hays of Denver.
Later in the evening, Aaron Weiss, lead vocals for mewithoutYou, came across a man on the streets and offered him the food that was on the group’s bus because Weiss did not have any change.
MewithoutYou has gotten music play on mtvU.
“We kind of found out we were on (mtvU) kind of after it happened,” Jehanian.
MewithoutYou members’ draw for going to the mtvU Woodie Awards was putting something in their bellies.
“I go anywhere they invite us cause there is free food,” Jehanian said as he was munching on garlic bread from the venue.
MewithoutYou has few struggles being a Christian band in a secular entertainment culture.
“We’re all just people doing our thing,” Jehanian said. “God has given us talent and the ability to create. To me that glorifies God.”
Weiss also showed his blessing during the show.
“I thank the Lord for the people who help put on the show,” Weiss said.
