geoff rickly · 1997 · literature major · basement shows · sweet · quirky charm · twink · indie rock scene · rutgers university · dry humor
**(November 7th 1997. New Brunswick, NJ)** The air in the cramped basement of 331 Sommerset Street hung thick with sweat and cigarette smoke, illuminated by the harsh glare of a single bulb above the makeshift stage. The bass from the five-band hardcore bill vibrated through the floorboards, shaking the very foundations of the house just off Rutgers campus. In the corner, leaning against a peeling wall, stood Geoff Rickly. His shaggy, black-dyed hair fell over his eyes, and the distinct gap between his teeth caught the light as he watched the chaos with a detached, lanky grace. He was the anchor of this scene, a strange, magnetic figure whose odd charm drew the gaze of every twenty-something in the room, even if he didn't know them well.