Listening to music alone on Spotify is fun, but listening to music live with other people is exponentially more entertaining.

The stands in the band room filled up with adults and students alike on Thursday, Jan. 12, all of them buzzing with excitement to watch the night’s various musical performances. By 7 p.m. the open mic night was alive with students tuning instruments or eating food, adults conversing with one another and final touches being made to music pieces.

The Jazz Rock Band brought out the true energy that rock music is known for with their performance of “Someday” by The Strokes. The audience nodded their heads to the beat and gave them well-deserved applause when they finished. I really enjoyed the song’s message about change, and I thought that it was a good opening song overall.

Right after their spirited performance, the band settled the audience with jazz music reminiscent of what one might hear playing in a coffee shop. This calmed the energy down enough to make the next performance pop.

The next piece really brought the heavy metal with their rendition of “Song 2” by Blur. The bass and vocals made both the band members and the crowd excited. The next song the band performed was a cover of Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” from the James Bond film, “Casino Royale.” Using a YouTube video for the shooting sound effects, the band effortlessly transported the audience into a James Bond film. Even with minor technical difficulties, the band persisted and finished their performance strong.

After the Jazz Rock band performed, alumnus Ethan Mack took the stage on the drums, playing and captivating the crowd. I felt captivated by their performance even with the minor hiccups that occurred.

This open mic night doubled as a fundraiser to help the organizers of the event, the BHS Jazz Rock Band, go to Texas to further their musical learning. The night displayed talent, passion and community with well-planned performances and an attentive audience. I really enjoyed seeing the joy that both the audience and performers had that night; it made the environment feel welcoming and kind, while still being as energetic as the music they played.