Bright lights illuminate your surroundings. You hear the crackle of an amp coming to life. Two taps to test the microphone, and everyone is so quiet you can hear your shoes squeak beneath you. You nervously wipe your palms and begin to play what you’ve spent countless hours rehearsing before. It may seem like a foreign concept, but finding a student in the halls of Northwood who does just this isn’t as hard as you would imagine.
“It’s amazing being in a band,” senior Arlo Estill said. “We are making new music almost every single day. I love my [band members].”
Estill is a vocalist and guitarist in his band, The Lemon Cukes, which also includes seniors Shane Brykailo and Greyson Willard. Having formed in August 2015, they’ve already performed in a multitude of places, including the Pittsboro Roadhouse and a community party involving around 60 people.
“We’re inspired by Eric Clapton and blues guitar of the 60’s,” Brykailo said. “We play covers of about 10 different songs, some Tom Petty and Old Crow Medicine Show, other artists [similar to them].”
While being a band member and full-time student may be a time-consuming idea, it’s a reality for some young performers right down the hall.
“I play guitar in my free time,” senior Ricky Young said. “A few hours out of my days are spent just playing guitar. I never feel like [I have] to practice. It’s just what I do for fun. Some people play sports or video games; I play guitar.”
Young is a guitarist, and although he is not in an official band, he has performed with other musicians before.
“I played the National Anthem on guitar at two football games, a lacrosse game, and the pep rally; that was cool.” Young said.
Sophomore Skyler Herrick has been practicing and performing with her family’s band for years.
“I [have sung] on and off for the Red Clay Ramblers, [my dad’s] band, about twice a year since I was little – six or seven,” Herrick said.
Herrick says she enjoys the overall experience of performing as a high schooler.
Many students can agree that the payoff of performing trumps the hours of hard work behind it.
“Practice what makes you happy,” Young said. “Every other technique will come along with it. No matter what, just practice what makes you happy.”
– By Zoe Willard