World jump day music

World Jump Day is an underground independent rock band started by Casey Wortmann and Lydia Gammill in the fall of 2006 while the two were juniors at The Winsor School in Boston, MA and seriously influenced the independent rock scene at the school after their graduation. Since then the band has gone on to perform a number of shows, public and private, forming a small following in Boston and, more recently, at the Northwestern campus. Casey Wortmann plays percussion, guitar, and does vocals for the band and Lydia Gammill plays the banjo, ukulele, and also helps out with guitar and vocals. The band is currently on hiatus as Casey and Lydia pursue college degrees at, respectively, Northwestern and New York University. The band plans to regroup come the summer of 2009.
Importance and Effect
World Jump Day became known on the New England private school circuit at a time when local open mic nights were dominated by all male independent rock bands. Despite The Winsor School's sponsored band "The Wednesday Night Music Club" there were no attempts by the female students to create and pursue their own bands. Casey Wortmann and Lydia Gammill noticed this fact and decided to take action with the formation of World Jump Day. Following their debut at the 2007 Jamnesty concert, World Jump Day became a testament to the fact, that women played a role--no matter how large or small--in the independent rock community. Since their formation in 2006, several other all girl rock bands have appeared within the Winsor community.
Mission Statement
Taken from the band's myspace page:
"World Jump Day was formed when two girls desired to make the world dance. Once fused with a hippie physics theory that attempts to change the worlds orbit with physics and therefore stop global warming, we knew twas time to rock."
Formation
During the summer of 2006 Casey Wortmann and Lydia Gammill began a series of informal jam sessions around Winchester, MA and Belmont, MA--the girls' home towns. At first the jam sessions were no more than a few rousing sessions of All You Need is Love and other countless Beatles hits; however, as time went on the girls realized that they were serious about starting a band together. "I just felt that it was time, I had cleaned my basement, my parents gave me a drum set, Casey was there--I mean why not take advantage of that?" Lydia later told Susan Alexander. The two then began holding formal band practice in Lydia's basement with their hopes set on having their first gig be their school's annual Jamnesty concert. "I think the deadline of Jamnesty was the push that our band really needed to get our stuff together and start writing some songs as well as finding a name" Lydia later reflected.
Naming
The band underwent a long naming process and consulted many notable classmates and family members before settling on "World Jump Day." One day in Physics class the girls' teacher, Ms. Labieniec, told the class about the physics related theory of "World Jump Day" in attempts to stop global warming. Reflecting on the situation Lydia later said, "The minute I heard the phrase I knew it had a great ring to it, Casey and I both looked at each other and knew we had heard something good." Up to that point the band's other top name option was "Cats in Space" but after much informal polling the girls decided on "World Jump Day" "because it had the word 'jump' in it, which is sort of like dancing" says Gammill.
Performance History
Jamnesty
In January of 2007 World Jump Day had their first performance at their school's annual Jamnesty concert. They performed a cover of The Moldy Peaches's song "Who's got the crack?" and their first original song entitled "Karen the Manatee." They originally planned to also perform a cover of David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel" but had to cut the set short due to time constraints. While some audience members were unsure how to receive the band's original song. the group was also met with an immediate small fan base leading to the creation of a myspace page devoted just to Karen the Manatee.
The group performed at their second Jamnesty concert in January of 2008. This time they devoted their set to only original material performing the songs "To be Continued" and "A Day in Space." The band also debuted their new logo (designed by Gammill) in the form of matching t-shirts at said concert.
Miscellaneous
While the band's formal performance record is slim they have performed together in several informal situations such as by different subway stations in Boston and in the basements of friends or in private for one of the band's most devoted fans, Marisa Bulkeley. "Sometimes all of the planning and chaos that goes into setting up a gig really puts a damper on our performance and Casey and I realize that we really just prefer performing in more relaxed situations, just hanging around for the enjoyment of our friends. Forgive the cliche but isn't that what making music is supposed to be about?" commented Lydia Gammill.
Merchandise
Gammill and Wortmann both made a number of "World Jump Day" t-shirts featuring the band's logo which was of one of the band members jumping off of a diving board connected to the world while the other member held a sign with the band's name. While the t-shirts were not made for lucrative purposes, there are several admirers of the merchandise leading the band with hopes of expanding their apparel line. Their myspace blog states:

World Jump Day is going to explode. Expect new singles, downloads, spandex jumpsuits, dancing, dancing and even more dancing, hugs, patches, posters, concerts in fields and basements, and who knows maybe even a cd.

The band plans for a portion of their profits to go to a fund that is committed to preserving manatee wildlife.
Popular Songs
1. Karen the Manatee
2. The Tambourine Song
3. Baby Beluga was Wrong
4. A Day in Space
5. To be Continued
6. Marisa
7. Forks & Knives
Covers include: "Rebel, Rebel," "Who's got the Crack," and "Puff the Magic Dragon"
Future Plans
World Jump Day plans to re-unite over the summer of 2009 and hopes to come out with a full length album featuring new instruments such as the ukulele, the banjo, cutlery, the glockenspiel, tambourines, buckets, and other interesting household items. In the meantime both Casey Wortmann and Lydia Gammill have begun half heartedly to pursue outside projects including Lydia's EP Come Play in the Garden released in the spring of 2008 and Casey's air-rock band based at Northwestern. "Though we tend to stray from one another, World Jump Day will never truly end" says Lydia Gammill.

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