Fun with 'Good Girls'
Eclectic sampling and rock & roll feature in student's latest band
Nick Madden
Issue date: 3/15/10 Section: Features
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On the eve of getting ready to record their first EP and planning a West Coast tour, Good Girls pave their own way, producing a kind of music that is hard to define: part Rock and Roll, with layers on top of layers of sampling taken from music of all genres.
Over the last decade Sylvester has paid his dues. He has played in multiple bands that span all different types of genres. It is his current project that he feels has truly made him a better musician.
"I felt like I was a dictator in my other bands," said Sylvester. "Until I met Devin, he really pushed me, brought my music to the next level and turned me on to music I might not have listened to before."
Born in Greenbrae, Sylvester is without a doubt a Marin County local. The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Latin culture has influenced him greatly. This influence can be seen in the tapestries throughout his house and in the classes he takes at COM.
"He is really passionate about music," said Sylvester's girlfriend, Cat Lauigan, 29. "He sometimes wakes up at four in the morning and picks up his guitar and plays. But he is also influenced by all aspects of Latin culture and is really into all the arts and crafts from the culture."
Sylvester began playing guitar when he was 14, but quickly switched to the bass, discovering it to be an easier instrument for him to write songs on at that age. When he entered high school he started his first band, called Big Daddy and the Sugar Cubes. The band was heavily influenced by ska, but slowly shifted toward swing. Sylvester's dedication to his music was visible. In the swing dance classes he took and role as band manager and leader.
Former trumpet player for Big Daddy and the Sugar Cubes, James Stryker, 27, recalls one particular moment when Sylvester's commitment paid off.
"It was a Redwood High School talent show. Jess was really excited and put a huge amount of work in. We ended up winning the talent show," said Stryker.
Sylvester admits he cared more about building his song-writing chops than his classes. When the band split up and its members went on to college and other endeavors, Sylvester hit a low point. After a long period of not playing in a band he became heavy drug user, locking him self away while working on music, alone.
"I had a lot of self doubt and was not musically confident. I was somewhat scared to even play in another band," said Sylvester. "I was just partying all the time."
Sylvester eventually decided it was time to change and began to go to substance abuse support meetings. Slowly becoming confident again, he started the band, R is for Rocket, a heavier rock group, far different from his last band.
"Music is a good distraction," said Sylvester.
At this time Sylvester was exploring other options for a possible career and enrolled at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. After spending a year and a half there he realized film school was not for him and came back to Marin. To pay his bills Sylvester got random day jobs, including one at Whole Foods, where he still works today. But he always came back to his music.
After brief stints in other bands, Sylvester joined a band called Tiger Uppercut, where he met current band-mate Riley. Nowadays Sylvester is a full-time COM student, enrolled in Spanish and music classes.
"I don't need money to be happy, as long as I am in a happy place," said Sylvester.
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