It’s a wintery night on the eve of Feb. 8, a joyous Thursday. My housemates and I have been waiting patiently for tonight.Bella’s Bartok is performing at the Java Barn this evening at 10:30 p.m. sharp: “No bags, No Booze, No Problem!” After rushing our pre-Java festivities, we gather on the front porch of The Greenhouse, 70 Park St. (our house. We’re bundled up in various jackets, ready to groove, and feeling good. I begin my trek across campus, speed-walking through the snow-dotted quads. It’s 10:15 p.m. – I can’t be late! Tonight, I am determined to be pressed against the barrier. How could I not be for this band?   

Bella’s Bartok is a sick group of seven beautiful artists. They jam. They rock. They accordion it up! Best of all, they have a stellar puppeteer! Not to mention, they have kickass Java alum Zachary Effman ’23, who kills it on the bass. Bella’s Bartok is THE band to see.  

I walk up to the Java quad through the thin straightaway between the building and the strange storage container. I can hear their pre-show music playing. The garage door is open – my favorite scene. We are some of the first people in the venue. Good. Plenty of space to set up camp for this head-banger of a night. Center rail for optimal viewing. Tick…Tick…Tick…10:30 p.m. rolls around. Bella’s isn’t on yet, and the venue is still sparse. Fashionably late is the style for these kinds of things. People are starting to roll in, and my right hand is gripping the rail so I don’t lose my spot. Friends are surrounding me. My house is congregated in the front, dancing on top of each other. Suddenly, the music goes quiet. The lights dim, and the stage lights start moving. Bella’s is coming onto the stage!   

I’m almost blinded by the band’s elusive style, but I watch them in awe as they strut onto stage. Almost immediately, they all pick up their instruments and begin to play. Smooth and funky melodies flood my ears, and my body reacts almost immediately: head–banging, arm–pumping, can’t–stop–jumping kind of dancing. Each member of the band has their own unique style that compliments each other so well. They look exactly as I would imagine rock stars to look like, especially Effman’s awesome flow.   

A friend described them as “piratey-funk-rock” and that is the perfect way Ito describe them. Bella’s Bartok rocked the entire Java venue that night. Everywhere I looked around, people were dancing, smiling, and moshing! Just having a grand ole’ time. Bella’s Bartok and the Java staff continue to make Thursdays my favorite day of the week.