Rock bands crank up the volume

With the relaxation of Covid restriction, our College rock bands led by Performing Arts Prefect Tague Bradley gathered fellow rock enthusiasts and invited bands from Baradene College of the Sacred Heart and Pukekohe High School to join them for the first ever Jamming in the MC, short for Music Center.

Parents, guardians and friends who packed out the Music Center that evening was in for a treat as six bands took turns on the mic, each performing a few songs, riffing and jamming to crowd favourites including a number of original songs.

Half a Dozen of the Baradene College opened the gig with a lively number. The bands that followed kept the crowd engaged with their bold arrangements and stage presence. Blue Room from Pukekohe High, especially the captivating voice of its band leader, drew the audience’s attention and applause. However, it was Kliff and 3 Day Rain, our two College premier rock bands that brought the house down through improvisations of new runs and fills while keeping the groove base steady, adding colour to songs and showcasing their group’s strong chemistry. The bands’ original pieces All We Know and Into the Night respectively got the audience clapping and swaying along to the tunes.

A highlight for Tague was seeing the creativity of bands shine through especially with a number of solid original songs that were shared throughout the evening. No doubt it was daunting, after hours of hard work crafting and rehearsing a new piece to perfection, and sending it out into the world. However, Jamming in the MC was created for moments like this.

In an environment run by students, for students, perhaps the most unique part of the night was the safe and supportive space it provided musicians across schools to perform, network and encourage one another. Nothing like this has been done before, and its success sets the tone for the future. We can’t wait for the next gig!