X Ambassadors is one of the best bands central New York has produced thus far. The four-member alternative rock band hails from Ithaca, NY and, luckily enough for ‘Cuse, is making a slight detour from their usual journey home to perform on campus Oct. 7 at Schine Underground as part of University Union’s Bandersnatch concert series.

Even if you’ve never heard of them before, you’ve likely heard their music without even realizing it if you’ve been exposed to a Jeep Renegade ad in the last year. “Renegades,” the second single off their latest album, “VHS,” was written for an ad featuring the Jeep Renegade.

The song has been their biggest single yet, an exceptionally personal feat for them, particularly because the song’s music video, which features various people with disabilities, was shot in Ithaca. The Jeep ad heavily features the band as well, but it is the band’s video, which in some way pays homage to band member Casey Harris, who has been blind from birth, that makes a lasting impact.

The band has been close-knit from the start, considering its keyboardist, Casey Harris, and lead vocalist, Sam Harris, are brothers. The guitarist, Noah Feldshuh, has known Sam since kindergarten, and the two met drummer Adam Levin in college.

The comfort the band members have with one another is evident in their music. Like “Renegades,” X Ambassadors’ music possess a fun, free, easy-going nature, making their studio sessions sound so lively that you just want to see them perform in person. Check out X Ambassadors play “Renegades” in under a minute:

 

Isha Damle is a junior television, radio, film major. She rarely knows the actual lyrics to songs, but is good at faking it until she makes it. Plus, her version is probably better. She can be reached at idamle@syr.edu or on Twitter @ishadamle.

Published on September 28, 2015 at 8:03 pm