US Army Materiel Command Band rocks Q-West

By Capt. Murray Shugars, 2nd Battalion, 198th Combined ArmsOctober 26, 2009

The Army Materiel Command Band, Raw Material, rocks the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater Oct. 17 at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Iraq. The band performed popular and classic rock songs for the Soldiers in attendance. 
(U.S. Army photo...
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Army Materiel Command Band, Raw Material, rocks the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater Oct. 17 at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Iraq. The band performed popular and classic rock songs for the Soldiers in attendance.
(U.S. Army photo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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Col. Larry Phelps, the commander of the 15th Sustainment Brigade, sings Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" during a performance by the Army Materiel Command Band, Raw Material, Oct. 17 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater at Contingency Operat...
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Larry Phelps, the commander of the 15th Sustainment Brigade, sings Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" during a performance by the Army Materiel Command Band, Raw Material, Oct. 17 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater at Contingency Operat... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sgt. Ericka Escalante, with the Army Material Command Band, Raw Material, sings during the band's performance Oct. 17 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Rob Str...
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Ericka Escalante, with the Army Material Command Band, Raw Material, sings during the band's performance Oct. 17 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Rob Str... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spc. Dong Lee, with the Army Material Command Band, Raw Material, rocks through the guitar solo of "Hotel California," during the band's performance Oct. 17at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater at Contingency Operating Location, Iraq. 
(U.S. ...
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Dong Lee, with the Army Material Command Band, Raw Material, rocks through the guitar solo of "Hotel California," during the band's performance Oct. 17at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater at Contingency Operating Location, Iraq.
(U.S. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Spohn, the enlisted band leader for the Army Material Command Band, Raw Material, plays the guitar for "Margaritaville," during the band's performance Oct. 17at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater at Contingency Operatin...
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Spohn, the enlisted band leader for the Army Material Command Band, Raw Material, plays the guitar for "Margaritaville," during the band's performance Oct. 17at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation theater at Contingency Operatin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq - The U.S. Army Materiel Command Band, out of Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., performed Oct. 17 at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Iraq.

Raw Material, the AMC's 9-member rock ensemble, jammed to a range of popular tunes in a headline show at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation indoor theater and performed two encore performances in the main dining facility Oct. 18 and Oct. 19.

The band is in the midst of a 40-day tour that includes stops at Joint Base Balad, Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, Contingency Operating Location Falcon, COL Meade, COL Carver, Talil, Mosul and Kuwait, said Maj. John Herd, director of Morale, Welfare and Recreation and a Florence, Miss., native..

Sgt. Elizabeth Whitehead, personnel clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, out of Fort Hood, Texas, said she enjoyed the show.

"The show was great," said the Los Angeles native. "They had a large variety of music, and they made me feel like I was somewhere else."

Staff Sgt. Jennifer G. Hutton, a supply noncommissioned officer in the same unit, echoed Whitehead's feeling of being transported by the music.

"They had a lot of energy, and they took my mind off being away from home," said Hutton, an Anchorage, Alaska, native. "I appreciate them taking the time to come put on a show for us."

Staff Sgt. Benjamin G. Smith, bass player and operations NCO, who has deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, said the band has had a great tour so far.

"Everyone has been great," said Smith, a Geneva, Ill., native. "The only issue we've had is the inconsistency of voltage in the power grid. We've blown three circuits and popped one generator."

Spc. Natanal Afanador, piano and saxophone player, on his first overseas deployment, praised the support the band has received.

"All the places we have been have been very organized and have taken good care of us," said Afanador, a San Juan, Puerto Rico, native.

He said he believes their music helps improve troop morale.

"Our purpose is to support the troops, give them a little distraction," said Afanador. "They are doing important work in helping to rebuild a government."

Herd said the band volunteered to perform two extra shows when its outbound flight was delayed.

"This is the kind of quality show that Soldiers enjoy," said Herd. "The band was outstanding, and they really lifted our spirits ... They are a class act all the way, and we are grateful that Raw Materiel visited Q-West."