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AFCENT band plays Bagram 'con passionne'

  • Published
  • By By Tech. Sgt. Drew Nystrom
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Guitar riffs, thumping bass and lyrics exalting Alabama aren't something you'd expect to hear in a war zone, but those are exactly the sounds that recently reverberated throughout Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

High Altitude, the U.S. Air Forces Central Expeditionary Band, performed a mix of rock 'n' roll, pop and country July 14 to 18 for the diverse people that make up "Team Bagram."
The U.S. Air Forces Central Expeditionary Band is the first Air Force band permanently assigned to the Central Command Area of Responsibility. Based in Southwest Asia, the band is comprised of deployed Airmen from Active Duty, Reserve and Air National Guard bands.

These professional musicians perform and tour in small ensembles throughout the AOR to positively promote troop morale, diplomacy and outreach to host nation communities.

According to Lt. Joe Denti, officer in charge of High Altitude, this particular band is comprised of performers from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

"We're here touring the AOR to promote and entertain through music," Lieutenant Denti said. "We've had a lot of interaction with the troops and the main thing is to get them involved and excited. Hopefully, we're able to help them relax and take their minds off the mission for just a minute," he said.

"They're [the servicemembers] totally immersed in their job 24 hours a day so we hope this gives them an outlet to have some fun through music," the Guardsman and middle school music teacher said.

According to reaction from those in the crowd, the band accomplished that mission.

"Rock n' roll is a great thing and what these guys do is awesome," Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Conant, a member of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron said.
"Everybody loves music and it definitely breaks the monotony up," Sergeant Conant said.

Performing often means having the spotlight shown squarely on them, but High Altitude showed several times during their stay they don't mind sharing the stage, sometimes with the unlikeliest of lyricists.

During their last performance at Bagram Airfield, U.S. Army Sergeant Brandon Kernells, a squad leader with the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, was invited to close out the show with a rousing version of "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

"I think the band did an awesome job," Sergeant Kernells said. "They definitely lifted morale and spirits here. Music is a universal language and events like this concert certainly improve cohesion among all the units and our different services too," he said. "It's good to see everybody getting together and enjoying some downtime as just friends."

Besides using music to relax, High Altitude took the time to use their talents to heal too.
"We played at the hospital which was extremely emotional," Lieutenant Denti said. "I think it really hits home when you see the troops and children there. Being able to take music to them and see how they react and how it uplifts their spirits really meant a lot to us," he said.

As much as the band enjoys providing a smile or just a moment of relaxation, the connection forged between performer and audience is a two-way street according to Master Sgt. Howard Boots, instrumentalist and vocalist with High Altitude.

"Being a music teacher in my civilian job, I tell my students all the time music is a universal language," Sergeant Boots said. "You see it no less so here. These men and women are in some really hazardous duty. To have a moment to make music together - and usually share some conversation and similarities in background - is a real cool thing," he said.

"I'll never forget it."