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Bassist David Hakopyan of the Armenian American rock group The Apex Theory will send a wake-up ca

While many bands brand themselves with political banners in light of current events, a lesser known band seeks to shed light on less publicized issues.

In an effort to join this musical bandwagon of the day’s unresolved issues, The Apex Theory will perform today at UCLA’s Awareness 2005, an event hosted by the Armenian Students Association in conjunction with other student and non-student groups to educate the community about historical and current political and social issues – specifically acts of genocide.

“We want to wake up UCLA for the half hour that we’re there,” said bassist David Hakopyan. “Hopefully the students will get a sense for a different type of rock. Maybe a few kids out of those walking by will listen to this new music, and it’ll hit a new idea in their heads. This music is about pushing forward, being a catalyst toward waking up.”

Hakopyan, Art Karamian (guitar, vocals) and Sammy Watson (drums) said they identify with the cause of the heavily debated Armenian Genocide and feel passionately about the opportunity to present all the issues that will be demonstrated at Awareness 2005.

“Bottom line, this isn’t only about the Armenian Genocide,” Hakopyan said. “This is about all kinds of different injustices that have happened globally. I also feel for these other causes, be it the Jews, the Sudanese or the Native Americans.”

This politically conscious band has been on the L.A. music scene for more than six years. The Apex Theory has performed primarily local shows and was on 2002’s Ozzfest lineup.

Since the departure of their lead singer, guitarist Art Karamian has taken up the vocals, and the reformed three-piece Armenian-American rock group has evolved into a more progressive, abstract sound derived from their global and alternative music influences. They will play material from their latest self-released EP, “intheskyissomethingwatching.”

“The music Apex is going to play will attract quite a crowd. Hopefully, once the music draws them in, the students could check out the booths (of the organizations sponsoring the show) and see what they’re all about,” said UCLA Armenian Students Association President Raffi Kassabian.

While feeding young minds isn’t entirely what The Apex Theory has on their agenda, it is definitely a part of heralding the wake-up call they want their music to generate.

“One thing good about (Awareness 2005) is a push away from the social decadence of whatever is on the media today,” Hakopyan said. “We’re completely losing sight of being human beings, (and) doing these events right now might incite some thought.”

Thus, Apex sheds the rock ’n’ roll image in favor of a more substantive goal.

“We don’t want to get all grandeur about this and say, ‘We will lead this riot!’” Hakopyan said. “But the good thing about making loud noise like this is that some people listen, and this gives us a platform and a forum, and it makes us feel better about it at the end of the day.”

Similar goals shared by Awareness 2005 and Apex make for the perfect marriage between the music and the message. Diverging from rock glamour and the popularity of mainstream news issues is the way by which these groups together want to generate thought.

“Our goal is to make the UCLA community aware of things going on in the world today and how the past has made an impact on us,” Kassabian said. “We saw so many genocides in the 20th century and it seems like it’s not coming to an end. We continue to see them today in Sudan, for example. Sadly enough, most people don’t even know what’s going on in Sudan.”

The Armenian Students Association will also host a series of events in the coming days, some in conjunction with other student groups. The organization’s second annual Silent March will take place on April 24, the widely recognized date of the Armenian Genocide. There will be a discussion panel on genocide denial on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Kerckhoff Grand Salon. Topics of discussion will include the Armenian Genocide, the Jewish Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, and the current crisis in Sudan. Professors from all over California are invited to speak.

“There has been a lot of wrong in this world,” Hakopyan said. “And chances are we’re not going to make it right. But we can be aware of it.”