The  L.A.B. is a musically diverse group from the Vineyard, ranging from 90s hip hop, all the way to 80s punk, delivered with a sense of humor. The members are Elliott Berz on vocals and guitar, and Oliver Larkosh on vocals and keyboard.

 Elliot and Oliver started making music in late 2020 during the pandemic, creating tracks and experimenting with sound, even altering language and forming their own words. This led to their first album about failing high school during quarantine. Their shared interest in and enthusiasm for making music (with humor) led to them setting up a dedicated, functional music studio (the lab) in an extra room at Elliot’s house in 2021. Their band name followed, with recognition that a unique sound was forming, one with a characteristic “lighthearted and goofy atmosphere.”

Their influences are varied, ranging from the instrumentals of The Beastie Boys to Joey Valence and Brae. Their track, “Can’t Have Shit On Martha’s Vineyard” is their version of creating a Valence and Brae flavored beat. They enjoy combining humor with music, as with their track, “The Lonely Island.”  They each contribute their individual inspirations, with Elliot’s punk rock leaning – think Dead Kennedys, Beck, Suicidal Tendencies and Underground Rap – and Oliver’s appreciation for Aunty Donna (absurdist comedy), Trevor Moore (known for his Comedy Central musical special, High in Church), and Jon Lajoie. 

The Divergents perform hardcore punk, with “trashy” influences. fast instrumentals, and harsh vocals. The founding band members are Robbie Seaton on lead vocals and guitar, Gabe Walters on background vocals and bass. Elliott Berz of The L.A.B. joins them on drums for the Pathways performance. This is The Divergents debut show.

Robbie and Gabe have been jamming for the past few years, originally with a third member, mostly having fun, and have only in the last few months formed a band with material. Early influences included Pantera and Megadeth, which led them to favor forming a metal band. They’d also watch videos of punk artists playing live, loved going to concerts, and thought, “We can do that too”. 

  Their shared inspirations for their band include The Misfits (specifically the Danzig era), The Descendants, and NOFX, to name a few. Their individual influences are more divergent, with Black Flag, Minor Threat, and Bad Brains for Robbie, and Fugazi, Rage Against The Machine, and the Smashing Pumpkins for Gabe.