Staff Sgt. Amber Grimes serenades a Kurenkeyev College of Music student during a Top Cover performance in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 21, 2011. The U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band Top Cover visited the Kyrgyz Republic to help build troop morale and public diplomacy. Grimes is a vocalist deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)
Staff Sgt. Amber Grimes signs a t-shirt for a Kurenkeyev College of Music student in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 21, 2011. The U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band Top Cover visited the country to build troop morale and public diplomacy. After the Kurenkeyev show students swarmed the stage seeking autographs from band members and seizing the opportunity to ask questions. Grimes is a vocalist deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)
Airman 1st Class Phil Runge watches a Kurenkeyev College of Music student tests out his guitar after a Top Cover performance at the school in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 21, 2011. Top Cover is a seven-member U.S. Air Forces Central Command band performing throughout the area of responsibility to build troop morale and public diplomacy. After the Kurenkeyev show students swarmed the stage seeking autographs from band members and seizing the opportunity to ask questions. Runge is a guitarist deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)
Staff Sgt. Shane Spanier watches a Kurenkeyev College of Music student play a melody on his keyboard after a Top Cover performance at the school in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 21, 2011. The seven-member U.S. Air Forces Central Command band rock band captivated the college students who were singing along, dancing, clapping, waving their arms and recording segments of the show with cell phones. Spanier is a pianist deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)
A Kurenkeyev College of Music student shows off her drumming skills as Staff Sgt. BJ Richard signs autographs after a Top Cover performance at the school in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 21, 2011. The seven-member U.S. Air Forces Central Command band rock band captivated the college students who were singing along, dancing, clapping, waving their arms and recording segments of the show with their cell phones. Richard is a drummer deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He is a native of Coshocton, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)
Staff Sgt. BJ Richard shows a child how to play the drums after a Top Cover performance at the Kurenkeyev College of Music in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 21, 2011. Top Cover is a seven-member U.S. Air Forces Central Command band performing throughout the area of responsibility to build troop morale and public diplomacy. Richard is a drummer deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He is a native of Coshocton, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)
Tech. Sgt. Denny Pack plays guitar during a Top Cover performance at the Kurenkeyev College of Music in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 21, 2011. The U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band Top Cover visited the Kyrgyz Republic to help build troop morale and public diplomacy. Pack is deployed as the NCO in charge of Top Cover from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He is a native of Twin Falls, Idaho. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)
by Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
9/24/2011 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Top Cover, the current U.S. Air Forces Central Command band, proved once again that music transcends international borders as they rocked a packed auditorium at the Kurenkeyev College of Music, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzistan, Sept. 21.
From the first song to the last of their nearly 2-hour performance, the seven-member rock band captivated the college students. They sang along, danced, clapped, waved their arms and recorded segments of the show with cell phones.
"The kids were so excited," said Tech. Sgt. Denny Pack, a guitarist and the NCO in charge of Top Cover. "They stood up out of their seats and started dancing right in front of the stage. We were just blown away, not only that they knew some of the more modern songs that we do, but they were singing along with the songs we did from the 1980s. It was fantastic to see that sort of enthusiasm."
The band played songs ranging from "Sweet Caroline" and "Sweet Home Alabama" to "Sweet Child of Mine."
"They knew some of the choruses, like Van Halen's 'Jump,'" said Pack, deployed here from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. "They were jumping right when they should. It was amazing."
The fact that the songs weren't sung in the student's native language didn't hamper their fun.
"At first I didn't know how I was going to communicate with the students," said Staff Sgt. BJ Richard, Top Cover drummer, who is also deployed from JB Elmendorf. "But by simply picking up the sticks and playing with them we were able to have a musical conversation. It seems like everybody can pick up two sticks and bang drums. Everybody had a good time."
After the show the students swarmed the stage seeking autographs from the band members and seizing the opportunity to interact with them.
"Can I have your autograph on my shirt?" asked a female student who caught a T-shirt thrown into the crowd during the show.
"I like your group," said a female student.
"I like Top Cover," echoed a male student.
After the show, the students were able to show off their skills to the band members.
"They were very familiar with our instruments," Pack said. "In fact, I taught one young guitar student a couple of cords on the guitar from one of her favorite songs we played. It shows you that music in general crosses boundaries and it crosses cultures."
Pack enjoyed the opportunity to interact with music college students.
"Watching these students you get a sense of where they are, musically speaking," he said. "It really reminds you of where you came from."
