An ensemble cast gathered Tuesday night for the Rock-It Science Festival to raise money for Sensation and Emotion Network. Acts ranged from the mellow mental musicians The Amygdaloids, to Dave Soldier’s linguistically and wonderfully diverse Flamenco group, The Spinoza's, to guest appearances by Rufus Wainwright and Dee Snider. Scientist musicians, musician scientists and non-science musicians came together at the Highline Ballroom to stimulate sense and emotions in the hopes that their efforts would help senses and emotions be studied.

The night appeared to be an uncommon partnership between scientists and musicians, but how unlikely is the pairing actually? Performers had varying opinions on the roles science and music plays in their lives. Coles Whalen, a singer songwriter with a powerful voice, opened the night with praise for her scientist mother who had always supported her musical ambitions. Whalen seemed to appreciate the rare occasion for her talents to be able to support her mothers.

David Rand, bassist of Pardis Sabeti's alternative rock group Thousand Days finds an aesthetic satisfaction with both writing a good scientific paper and writing a good song. As a Harvard biology grad student, Rand uses his PhD work to help with material for his solo music. Does music then help him with the science? Indirectly, according to Rand, since it balances out his life. Thousand Days drummer and scientist Bob Katsiaficas drew parallels in the process of working out a scientific problem and writing music. He put it simply- "They both use a lot of trial and error."

As for the star perspective, Rufus Wainwright started off his set with some science self-deprecation when he admitted that he failed every science course he took and once described himself as 5'12", instead of 6 feet. He seemed out of his element, weary of and unsure how to connect to his audience. With an interest in science being the common thread of the audience instead of a love for his music, it’s had to fault him for this. No one thought that failing every science class was a funny notion and it made for some awkward moments. As his set went on, both the audience and Wainwright warmed up to each other. Wainwright’s lullaby like voice and brooding lyrics were hard to resist. And Wainwright, longtime gay rights activist, found a way to relate when he declared that “scientists are the new oppressed people,” and that he will always fight for oppressed people.

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