To Perform Tonight At Cherry Hill
Ninja Slap to Get More Gigs, Maybe CD

"Music Is Better Than Poetry and Eating Ben & Jerry’s With Your Girlfriend"

If you were to mention the two words "Ninja" and "slap" next to each other and they were in, say, Oregon, those guys would think that you were talking about a new soda or narcotic. However, the kids around here know exactly what Ninja Slap is, and if some of them don’t, then they know now.

Ninja Slap, probably the most well-known, current, homemade high school band in this little town of Falls Church, intends on getting more notches on their belts, from small gigs for charity like the one for prom last month, to even recording a CD for themselves.

The self-proclaimed "rock n’ roll" band, raised on the Brecker Brothers, Billy Cobham, and other random to understandable types of rock music in general, have produced their own breed of music, or so it would seem. It consists of long jams, solos, and "outspoken and misunderstood" lyrics that seem to be injected with an aura of psychedelicish Jimi Hendrix, enigmatic Jim Morrison, and just a hint of Toxic Twins. Such themes are welded into such Ninja Slap songs as "Japanamation Girl," "Space Heater," and "Rockasaurus Rock" that have become personal favorites of GM members and NS members alike.

Eamonn Rockwell and Erik Dever, two of the four full time guitarists of Ninja Slap  practicing and being pensive at the same  time. Both will be performing in the concert,  which begins at 7:00. (Photo courtesy of Ninja Slap)	The spectacled guitarist Billy Gallagher of Ninja Slap soloing at Battle of the Bands with  Erik Dever in the background. The band will  be featured at George Mason’s guitar class  concert June 1. (Photo courtesy of Ninja Slap)

Each of them have their own persona and taste of music, which is present in their music. Touring or no, they have been plugging their hours into practicing, jamming, and lyric writing for upcoming gigs, such as the Cherry Hill concert on June 1 which some of the members will be performing in along with the schools’ guitar classes. The concert begins at 7:00 at Cherry Hill Park and will sell food.

Charlie Himel
Instruments: Drums, bass
Favorite NS song: "Japanamation Girl"
NS Nickname: "Drummer Guy Who Likes Screamy Music"
Rock Star Altar Ego: Keith Moon
Perhaps the quietest of the NS band members, Charlie, like his main instrument, the drums, has become the backbone of the band with his composed persona. (Every band should have in one member like such) Or maybe it’s his preferences in rhythm-based music genres such as jazz and funk that keeps him so unruffled. Charlie also likes playing ping-pong, which has its own cadence in a way.

Erik Dever
Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Occasional vocals
Favorite NS Song: "Tryptophan Caravan"
NS Nickname: "Chewbacca"
Rock Star Altar Ego: John Paul Jones
Erik, usually just referred to as Dever, is sort of your typical bassist and occasional guitarist. He has a creative relationship with Eamonn that he relates to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, particularly with lyric writing and griping. Dever also likes chatting about philosophy, Star Wars, and politics with Billy, which they implant into some NS songs. He is a fan of Beck and old Cake.

Eamonn Rockwell
Instruments: Guitar, occasional drums, bass, "Iffy" vocals
Favorite NS Song: "Basement Acid"
Known As: "The Diabetic"
Rock Star Altar Ego: Jim Morrison
Eamonn’s outspokenness is apparent onstage with his unpredictability and unorthodox behavior (unorthodox to Yo-Yo Ma, because rockers are associated with nonconformist manners, actually) while performing, such as leaving the stage in the middle of a song and shouting the NS intro when arriving on stage. He hopes to attain "41 Grammies and a house of amps."

Billy Gallagher
Instruments: Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, and Mandolin
Favorite NS Song: "Japanamation Girl"
Known As: "Paypa Plate"
Rock Star Altar Ego: Walter Becker
Billy shares the lead singer presence onstage with Eamonn and Billy appears to be the more collected of the two during concerts. He is known for getting inspiration from Steely Dan and Go West, for some of his guitar and mandolin licks have striking similarities. He is currently avoiding any stalkers.

Bob Bumgarner
Instruments: Guitar, Bass
Favorite NS Song: "Basement Acid"
Known As: "The guy that didn’t show up for the first 3 concerts"
Rock Star Altar Ego: Angus Young/George Harrison
Like George Harrison, who was known as "The Quiet One" of the Beatles, Bob’s collected personality and the fact that he plays guitar with no singing whatsoever makes him a prototype of quintet guitar players globally. Bob doesn’t have a speech impediment or anything, he’s actually pretty articulate, but he just prefers to remain a "Quiet One." If he is going to make a statement, Bob prefers to keep it subtle. He likes sitar music and Muddy Waters and wearing headbands.