Nestled between two golden, ambient washlights, a cushioned couch faces the front of the Band Room where sophomore Arik Smith strums “Say it Ain’t So” by Weezer on his electric guitar. He gets to about measure 15 before stopping, turning to his stage partner and asking “Wait, are you playing in A [chord]? It’s in E.” Offstage, alumnus and physics teacher Jack Reed sets expectations for the night: “That’s jazz, folks!”
On Friday, Sept. 20, the first Open Mic Night of the year was held in the Band Room. Hosted by juniors and Music Collective students Amelia Baraona and Rose dela Paz, the event raised money for Music Collective’s spring trip to the Netherlands. The night included snacks, chatting and an open invitation for anyone to sing, say or strum anything on stage.
The performances executed were varied, encompassing a wide range of genres and instruments. For example, junior Ingrid Aumiller sang “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse, then joined Music Collective teacher Carolyn Castellano for the faster country song “Red Clay Halo” by Gillian Welch, which was then followed by a sextet’s cover of Billie Holiday’s “All of Me.”
Baraona has been coming to the Open Mic Nights since last year and said they are a great way to enjoy music and meet new people. She also encourages anyone to come, as an audience member or performer.
“We always have snacks, and anybody can play any level; there’s no requirements for anything. Whatever you want to do,” Baraona said. “We always need people to perform.”
Improvisation was featured in a majority of the performances: musicians tuning instruments, working out the key and deciding solo order was commonplace on stage, and the informality of the event resonated with multiple audience members. When senior Graham Martin-Wilson spontaneously took the mic to tell jokes while the room waited for the next act, he summarized the sentiment.
“That’s what Music Collective is all about,” Martin-Wilson said. “Everybody coming together, having some fun: a little communion, a little music.”
Sophomore Adam Margalit said that as a jazz band, he and his classmates are used to improvising. He plays the clarinet and alto and tenor saxophones and said that it was fun performing. He performed with a variety of acts and classmates.
“It’s the same pool of people, but it switches around,” Margalit said. “It’s nice to switch it up and play with new people.”
Castellano said the next Open Mic Night will be on Friday, Oct. 18, and promised pumpkins to carve and snacks to eat. Audience member and junior Shanti Appavoo said that people should take advantage of Open Mic Nights to see some great music.
“I’ve never seen a school band room looking so much like a cool, underground music venue,” Appavoo said. “Everyone was so ridiculously talented.”