TOO COOL 4 SKOOL
- 14 hours ago
- 6 min read
The delicate balance that a Cleveland State University student dances upon as a learner by day and a musician by night.
Written by Kylee Herrick
He meets grueling deadlines, types furiously to finish a 10-page paper and still manages to arrive at a gig unscathed – ready to play his heart out for Cool Party, an “indie grungegaze bagel rock” band that represents an unforgiving silliness and childlike excitement.
Mario Benjamin, a senior studying popular music, has been a member of several bands throughout his high school and college careers, at one point playing in four at once. He balances his responsibilities as a student with his passion to express himself musically, currently serving as lead guitarist for local groups Cool Party and Tall Grass.
In 2021, during his first year at Baldwin Wallace University, Benjamin joined Tall Grass and experienced the world of concert performance. The self-proclaimed “lawnmowercore” band had originated prior to the pandemic, and was reinstated shortly afterward with Benjamin as its newest addition. It was new, exciting and a part of him that would never be snuffed out; he is now approaching his five-year anniversary as a member and has built solid friendships with his fellow bandmates Ben Principe, Jonah Rigby and Paul Perrotti.
“When you're in a band, everyone has a role,” Benjamin said. “You want to serve the music, trust your friends and feel comfortable to express [your] creative input.”
But Cool Party arrived at his doorstep in its infancy. Laurel Ila, the lead singer, is a Cleveland State University alumna and had shared an ensemble class with Benjamin. After collaborating on multiple Radiohead covers, Ila pitched the idea of starting a band, inquiring as to whether he would be interested in offering his guitar skills. By 2023, she had found a bassist, Andi Chakraborty, and a drummer, Vaughan Ticherich. Cool Party was born.
Their music is heavy and emotional, evoking a sense of bitter nostalgia. Song ideas are typically pitched by Ila or Chakraborty with some semblance of lyrics or a chorus having already been established. They approach it with an old-school style: a whiteboard to build the structure of the intro, verses and chorus. Benjamin goes with the flow, creating a rhythmic ambience that pairs with the choices that the rest of the band has made; each member values the creative expression that their companions bring to the table.
“We'll try a few things out. I tend to rewrite my parts a lot because, when you're playing lead guitar, it's a fine balance between supporting the vocals and also being another kind of melodic instrument,” Benjamin said. “I try to see where I fit and just watch and listen, because sometimes certain parts don't even need another guitar, you know?”
Once a song meets the band’s expectations, it hits the stage. Benjamin has performed alongside Cool Party in venues such as Mahall’s — including The Roxy and the main room — as well as The Grog Shop and Beachland Ballroom and Tavern. He prefers the intimacy of smaller venues where he can interact with the audience and hear his own vocals past the feedback of the microphone. When a concertgoer is filming him or having a particularly good time, he leans into it and engages with that person to leave a positive, lasting impression on them.
He sees Cleveland’s music scene as a fruitful space to grow as a musician. Tall Grass has brought him to shows in Columbus and Akron, but the venues in Cleveland cater to a diverse selection of genres that allow individuals to explore their niche interests.
“Cleveland is a big melting pot of a bunch of different musical genres,” Benjamin said. “I feel like a lot of the venues in Cleveland try to accommodate all kinds of genres and different styles of events.”
Amidst the favorable attributes of the scene, Benjamin’s main gripe is when others interfere with someone else’s enjoyment. Forcing the creation of mosh pits or becoming inebriated to the point of harassing one’s peers is a no-go for him.
“Don't get me wrong, I love when people move, but if people don't just leave them alone, right?” Benjamin said.
It is not all fun and games outside of the studio, either. During Benjamin’s time as a student, he has had to organize several projects and demands beyond his recreational pursuits in music. He works with sound and audio equipment for the School of Music, recently assisting with the soundboard for Cleveland State’s production of “Into the Woods.” Prior to its transition to Ideastream, he had been a part of WCSB 89.3 FM as a disc jockey and promotions coordinator. These roles are intermingled with his two jobs that pay the bills and keep him afloat as a young adult. Exhaustion must be handled accordingly.
“[I give] myself mental space to be able to work on homework,” Benjamin said. “It's hard sometimes; I'll have a show and I'll have to immediately leave because I have school in the morning, or I have an essay to do that night and I have to finish it. I definitely have to make sacrifices on both ends of what I'm interested in and what I have to do.”
What keeps Benjamin going is the knowledge and real-world applications of his teachings as a Cleveland State student. If a class does not align with his preferences, he still manages to find a valuable lesson within it. Much of his education serves as a tool to improve his bands’ presentation, the ways in which he caters to venues and how he can plan gigs – business and artistry go hand in hand.
“[Cleveland State] has given me [more] applicable ways to use my knowledge that I'm learning from class and applying to my personal projects. I think the best part about it is practicing the stuff I do so I can leave better than what I started off [as],” Benjamin said.
Benjamin has no regrets in filling his already overflowing schedule with two, even three, bands. He continues to fight for an equal amount of work and play with an unbridled fervor. Through his ability to play in front of an audience, he has improved his skills as a performer and as a guitarist that he would not have otherwise exercised in a basement or garage. In spite of the circumstances he finds himself in, he stays humble and open to learn with every show, recording and practice.
“I never take it so seriously where I was like ‘we're going to blow up; we're going to be the next big thing,’” Benjamin said. “But at the same time, whatever I put out, I want it to feel true and authentic. I care.”
His advice is to be intentional with those that one holds dear, making a deliberate effort to be present. One of the biggest challenges he has faced has been incorporating his social life into the busy world he finds himself in.
To nurture his relationships, he will reach out to schedule lunch visits or excursions that fit into his day. He believes that, on top of caring for others, “you have to take care of yourself, or [everything else] is going to fall apart.”
Cool Party, Tall Grass and his musical education are outlets to satiate Benjamin’s appreciation for a multitude of genres, creating a constant flow of inspirational material. As he approaches graduation, he leaves behind just one of his many hats as a student-performer-employee hydra and reflects on the efforts he has made to find his calling. To fight for his creative liberties.
“Even if it's for fun, even if you sound like crap, at least you're doing something,” Benjamin said. “I think all that matters is reaching out to the people close to you and trying to do something fun.”
Follow @coolparty4ever, @tallgrassoh and photographer Rebecca Aslanis, Bee, at @aslaniscle.jpg on Instagram for updates on live shows and upcoming releases. Be sure to check out Cool Party’s latest EP, “underoath,” on Bandcamp, Apple Music, Deezer on Spotify.
