News>Band offers musical respite from deployed stress
Photos
Airmen from the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, play for a crowd of advisers from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
Airman 1st Class Melissa Rager, a vocalist with the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, sings to a crowd of advisers from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
Airmen from the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, play for a crowd of advisers from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
Airmen from the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, play for a crowd of advisers from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
Airmen from the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, play for a crowd of advisers from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
Airmen from the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, play for a crowd of advisers from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
Airmen from the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, play for a crowd of advisers from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
Senior Airman Ryan Rager, a member of the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, plays his keytar during a concert for the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing advisers, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
Staff Sgt. David Pojar, a percussionist with the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing, plays for a crowd of advisers from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, May 6, 2012 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. The seven band members have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay)
by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
5/9/2012 - KABUL, Afghanistan -- Music is a powerful force that affects people in different ways. It has the power to make people smile, nod their head, dance and sing along. It can be the fuel that powers them through a difficult workout or alleviates boredom from laboring through monotonous chores like mowing their lawn or washing dishes.
For deployed personnel it can serve as a reminder of being back home with loved ones. The seven members of the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Night Wing have been touring for months to give military members a respite from the day-to-day monotony of deployed life.
The group visited the Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan May 6 to 8 and played both an acoustic and electric show. Air Force Master Sgt. Richard Baisden, NCO in charge of the band and lead guitarist, said he has enjoyed touring and entertaining his fellow military brothers and sisters.
"The shows have been going very well," he said. "The people we have played for have really enjoyed our music and we have been able to give them a minute to relax from the stress of being deployed and forget about where they are for a minute."
The band works together to make sure each show is entertaining. They also try to offer things people may not expect to see in a show. This creativity is often seen in their acoustic shows.
"If we were strolling around with our acoustic stuff and someone yelled out a request for Metallica as sort of a joke we would actually play it and it would be kind of funny," said Baisden.
Maj. Jennifer Bradley, flightline maintenance adviser for the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, said she had a great time at Night Wing's acoustic show.
"The show was phenomenal. And it absolutely brightened my spirits having them come out today and play for us," she said. "I thought their music selection was very refreshing and enjoyable. It really brought a smile to my face."
Baisden said that the selection of music is a team effort by the band. They spend time together listening to music and experimenting with different songs. He said the band is a close-knit group and that is important to the quality of their music.
"If you listen to a group with members that don't get along you hear the animosity come through in the music," he said. "When we play you can hear we are having a good time."
Following their show audience members walked up to the band members and shook their hands and thanked them for the show. Many commented how it made them feel like they were back at home. Baisden said providing his fellow military brethren a chance to relax is very important to him.
"It is extremely rewarding," he said. "It is an absolute blast to be on stage and really connect with people and see smiles on their faces, especially here in the AOR. It makes what we do feel vital."
