In June of 1997, in an old warehouse on the outside of Wilkes-Barre, Pa, five friends came together to create something new and different. The result , Harijan. A band founded to be the next musical revolution. Blending musical influences of funk, jazz, soul, blues, rock, and world music, they’ve created a groove filled emotional roller coaster that takes you through an array themes, moods, and experiences. Their motto “ balls to the wall,” ” play every show as if it were your last.” On stage they convey such an energy of one that allows them to move effortlessly from style to style. With this intensity it’s no wonder why their live shows have been such success.

For the past four years the members of Harijan have been playing a wide array of venues ranging from small-town bars and clubs to state universities and major entertain hubs for underground and up-and-coming musicians. The group has shared tickets with such acts as: Gov’t Mule, The Kelly Bell Band and Fathead. They have played to support causes such as Earth Conservation as well as various charity functions, benefiting an array of causes, which are of major personal and/or national and global concern.

The band is now comprised of its four founding members. Often joined by saxophone, keyboard and harmonica accompaniment, the band has a host of musicians who make their way to the stage to broaden this already robust and tightly wrapped sound. Melvin Shaw, lead guitarist, is perhaps the most eclectic of the players. His raw and unique sound can only be described as original. Trained in the blues and jazz, he has truly defined (through his playing) his style and sound as both intriguing and captivating. Todd Ankiewicz, bass and vocals, is half of what makes up the backbone of the band. His methodic, yet unpredictable bass lines give the band its’ funky, 1 and 3 feel. He at times, can set off jams the rest of the band never sees coming and can turn a routine arrangement into something as new for the band as it is for the crowd. He is also responsible for most of the arranging and lyrical writing for the band’s original compositions. Pat Marcinko, drums/ percussion, background vocals, is the group’s senior. Studying music almost since birth and earning a degree in music from The Marywood University , Pat is the band’s disciplinarian and conductor. His almost inhuman clean sound and mind boggling speed on the drums is what makes the band complete. Dave Sol, lead vocals and hand percussion, is the voice of Harijan. Through his soulful and powerful vocal style, Dave transforms soft, tight preludes into melodic, funky numbers that bring the crowd as well as the band’s energy level to a high. Trained in opera and Broadway ranging from The Messiah to Les Miserables, his diverse vocal range helps give the act it’s “no two tunes sound the same” feel that keeps everything fresh.

Collectively, Harijan is succeeding at their goal. They remain on their mission, bringing music to an entirely new level, bridging generation gaps and removing ethnic barriers. The band continues its infinite search for new sounds and firmly believes that with support of its listeners will be able to reach even higher plateaus in this wonderful creation called music, the oldest, highest form of expression man kind has to offer.