Have you ever heard anything about a high school rock band? From movies, from tv shows, even at your school? Did you ever see one at a talent show or open mic night? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in one of those bands?
“I feel like arguments are kind of inevitable in a band, especially when there’s five people, which means five different opinions on every single thing that we do. And I feel like that’s just going to happen, but I feel like overall we kind of get over those hurdles a lot and we just kind of try and refocus on our main goals, on what we want out of this band. “ said junior Wilbur Luckman, the bassist for the band Blame Torrent.
Blame Torrent has performed at Deluxe Brewing here in Albany, and plans to possibly do more performances in the future at other places.
“I’d probably just say me personally, just have fun with it. It’s definitely almost like a job you have to do, but it’s also just a fun thing that we decided to do. Whether we make it big or do something cool or not, it’s just us having fun. “ said Luckman. “My advice is to put yourself out there.” said senior Caleb Hensworth, the lead guitarist. “I was the one who put up the posters that you saw around the school, and that was one way of reaching people, but also just see if some people you’re already friends with are interested in joining your band and enjoy some music.” “I would also say you need to realize how much of a time commitment it is and if you have time because other people probably don’t, especially since you’re in high school and there’s extra cirriculars.” stated West Albany legend McMullen Sanders, the vocalist for the band.
High school rock bands can be a fun way to get in touch with your community and for you to pursue a love in music, if that’s a passion you have. “So I play in three different bands. I play in Street Bound, which is a band with Nick, our bass player, who is a high schooler. Our old drummer was a high schooler, and then the other guitarist, he was only a year older than us. He got his GED, so he wasn’t a senior last year, but he would have been. Then the other band I play in, the other original band I play in is with college kids, and then I play in a cover band with old people. But being in it with young people, so much more fun. You get to see people that are hungry and ambitious and, you know, love music. That’s what’s really important about it.” said senior Henry Glass. “It’s really strange because even being in a smaller band, you still spend the same amount of time [with] a show that a band like ten times your size would, if not more, because you don’t have a team to load in all your stuff and all that. And you don’t have a real sound check. It’s just like you kind of have to sound check while you’re playing. So it’s not for the faint of heart, but I think it’s the best thing in the world.”
So if you have a love for music, or even just a slight feeling for it, maybe joining, making, or even just going to a high school band’s practice or show could be a very enjoyable experience. You can find Blame Torrent on Instagram and Youtube.
