Three student bands take top honors
BY: JULEE CHAU
Staff Writer
On the afternoon of April 1, Meramec students showed off their talents at “Open Mic Night.” Campus Life sponsored the event featuring students who read their personal poetry, performed in comedy skits, played instruments and sang their favorite songs. Some students took the occasion as an opportunity to showcase their bands.
“The aim of the event was collaboration and to have fun; we really wanted to hear the voices of STLCC,” said Khup Mung, vice president of Music Club. The event had a “Minions” theme that was reflected in the flyers and decorations.
While students enjoyed catered food from “Raising Canes,” they competed for the top three prizes, which included Beats Wireless Headphones for 1st place, JBL Bluetooth Speakers for 2nd place and a Vinyl record player for 3rd place. Student Peter Guidry came in first place with his singing of “Feeling Good” by Michael Bublé.
“I listened to Michael Bublé’s rendition of the classic song so many times to learn about tone and inflection; meeting him at least halfway in power was my goal,” said Guidry. He said he practiced for a full week for the event.
Student band “Foxglove & Lily” rocked the stage with their rendition of “Romantic” by “Mannequin P.” They proudly landed 2nd place. The band includes main vocalist RJ Muhammad, drummer Joshua Swamp, and Kristen Irene and Owen Schrader, who both alternate bass and guitar.
“Foxglove & Lily are both poisonous flowers; they symbolize that something beautiful can also be deadly and I think that’s the hallmark for the type of music we want to make,” said Muhammad.
The band formed last fall when a traveling priest came on campus and started shouting islamophobic and homophobic rhetoric, Muhummad said. In an act of protest, the students started playing together to drown him out, and decided to form a band as a result of the experience.
Another student band, “Retired,” commanded attention with their cover of “Fell in Love with a Girl” by The White Stripes. Their strong vocals and instrumentals ripped through the event space, ultimately helping them land 3rd place. The band consists of main vocalist Nate Ennenbach, guitarist Spencer Clark, drummer Beth Penton and bassist Dan Dennison.
“People talk about how our generation won’t be able to retire, so the name we chose was an ironic play on that joke,” said Dennison.
The band came together when Clark asked his friends to join him for open mic nights at different places. They’ve since formed a strong bond, “our jam time and hang out time are intertwined because we value band chemistry,” said Clark.
When asked what music means to them, the victorious Meramec students had a diverse range of answers. “Foxglove & Lily” vocalist RJ Muhammad sees music as inspiration.
“Music is everything to me, it’s how I get ideas for my art and writing. I put on music even when I’m preparing for the day,” said Muhammad. “Music is constantly in the background, and I’m always exploring new songs.”
“Retired” vocalist Nate Ennenbach said music is a form of expression. “Music comes down to expressing things creatively, and I think I have a special ability to put all my emotional weight into a song. I feel blessed to be able to share that with other people,” said Ennenbach.
“Retired” drummer Beth Penton likens music to community. “I met a lot of my best friends through groups that I’ve played with,” said Penton. “With performing, I love learning how to connect with an audience and overcoming my own fears.”
