Met Gala + Talent Showcase @ Delaware State University

Name: Met Gala + Talent Showcase @ Delaware State University — STATIC JOY
Start: 2026-04-24T12:00:00-0400
End: 2026-04-24T23:59:00-0400

Friday, April 24, 2026
12:00 PM 11:59 PM

Google Calendar ICS

We will be performing twice at DSU in one day! That’s right, twice!! Jake’s professors liked us so much the first time, they want us to come back for a double!

The first performance is another talent showcase, this time in the MLK building. We will be playing around 12pm. It is open to the public, so come out and have a good time! The performances at this event will earn a final grade for many students, so there will be a lot of incredible talent on display - including us!

The second performance is DSU’s annual Met Gala event. This one might not be open to the public; we don’t have many details yet, except that it’s a very big, very fancy event, and that it’s later in the day. We’ll update here and on our socials when we know more.

April 9

Live from the shed

Wesley started learning to play drums as a kid, and was taught for years by local jazz/blues legend Spike Bryant. His career started similarly to Franco’s, with a church band, and continued with the Delaware Tech drumline, under the tutelage of the late and great Lenny Knight. He later moved on to play in various cover bands, as an occasional fill in for Dutchman, and with progressive metal bands Erase Me and Jungle Dream.

“For me, the name ‘Static Joy’ is about how in each of us, there is an inner happiness that can’t be gotten rid of. In other words, it’s static. But it definitely doesn’t feel that way always. Sometimes it feels more like everything has gone wrong, like the whole world is insane, or like there’s no hope left for the future. But you can find that joy again if you keep looking for it. Each of us has been through some really difficult stuff, even just since we started this in 2024. But we’ve kept getting together, making music, and working towards the future as a band. I feel very lucky to have the bandmates that I’ve got, and I’m super excited to see what we can do together as Static Joy.”

Franco started learning music as a kid;  first piano, then guitar as a teen. Shortly after picking up guitar, he began his musical career with his church’s band at only 14 years old, and he's still an active member to this day.   Franco and Jake both spent several very accomplished years in Dutchman before meeting up again in Static Joy.  Their prior experience working together is easy to see in the way that their writing and playing styles compliment each other.

“Static Joy represents a duality of some kind, a duality that represents tension and balance. When the word ‘static’ comes to mind, I think of TV static, which is chaotic and disorienting. When the word ‘joy’ comes to mind, an image of internal stability and release is formed. In other words, balance. These are two opposing concepts, and when combined, they paint an image of struggle or tension between the two. This tension is representative of the conflict that is seen outside and within.”

Tony grew up in a family of musicians and has been singing and playing all kinds of instruments his whole life;  including 16 years of bass in touring bands.  Highglass Wave, Cinderfella, and From the Gallows to the Grave are just a few worth mentioning.  He’s also taught multiple other musicians how to play and learn by ear, he can read and write tablature, and he's the band's sound engineer!  Tony and Wesley have been jamming together off and on, since they were teens.  So you can be 100% sure, Static Joy has a rock solid rhythm section.

“Static Joy is the backbeat to my heart. It’s my reintroduction to music after a long hiatus. It’s creating a sound that’s familiar to the heart, but new for the brain. It’s getting together with the boys and rocking every molecule the length of our soundwaves. It’s about love, really.”

Franco Valentino Solorzano Soto

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enough to drive. At the age of 18, him and a friend started a band called Dutchman - later joined by Franco as well - in which they wrote and recorded songs for 3 EPs which received radio play. They were also nominated for Best Hard Rock song at The Queen in Wilmington, and featured in the Delaware State News, among other notable accomplishments.

“I think duality is a common concept that moves us. ‘Static Joy.’ Two words with two meanings, put together as one. For me, it’s about the combination of chaos and harmony. It allows me to fully unleash my passion and emotion, my anger and happiness. Static joy has become an outlet for me to release the stress I carry around and to let go of the current problems I face in my life. If nothing else, for me Static Joy is a beacon of hope and a means for pure expression. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears have already been put into this band.”

Franco Valentino Solorzano Soto

Franco started learning music as a kid; first piano, then guitar as a teen. Shortly after picking up guitar, he began his musical career with his church’s

band at only 14 years old, and he's still an active member to this day. Franco and Jake both spent several very accomplished years in Dutchman before meeting up again in Static Joy. Their prior experience working together is easy to see in the way that their writing and playing styles compliment each other.

Highglass Wave, Cinderfella, and From the Gallows to the Grave are just a few worth mentioning. He’s also taught multiple other musicians how to play and learn by ear, he can read and write tablature, and he's the band's sound engineer! Tony and Wesley have been jamming together off and on, since they were teens. So you can be 100% sure, Static Joy has a rock solid rhythm section.

Wesley Vinton

Wesley started learning to play drums as a kid, and was taught for years by local jazz/blues legend Spike Bryant. His career started similarly

Jake started singing and playing guitar when he was a kid, and started gaining experience playing for a crowd on Main Street, Newark before he was old enough to drive.  At the age of 18, him and a friend started a band called Dutchman - later joined by Franco as well - in which they wrote and recorded songs for 3 EPs which received radio play.  They were also nominated for Best Hard Rock song at The Queen in Wilmington, and featured in the Delaware State News, among other notable accomplishments.

Jake Dutcher

Jake started singing and playing guitar when he was a kid, and started getting experience playing for a crowd on Main Street, Newark, before he was old

Tony McUniverse

Tony grew up in a family of musicians and has been singing and playing all kinds of instruments his whole life; including 16 years of bass in touring bands.

to Franco’s, with a church band, and continued with the Delaware Tech drumline, under the tutelage of the late and great Lenny Knight. He later moved on to play in various cover bands, as an occasional fill in for Dutchman, and with progressive metal bands Erase Me and Jungle Dream.

~Some of our favorite quotes~

“In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength.” Uncle Iroh, Avatar: The Last Airbender

“Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans? Mesa like dis. Maybe wesa… bein’ friends.” - Boss Nass, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace

2026 Static Joy™