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“Tons of fun,” said Stickels, the guitarist for Recycled Percussion, a high-energy band that got its start in New Hampshire, summing up Tuesday’s event while he signed a drumstick for a lucky student who caught it when it was tossed into the crowd. “This is such a great school.”
Combining an upbeat message of spreading kindness every day with a dynamic musical performance, the band, which has gained a following for its use of non-traditional instruments, easily won over the Stevens students.
“Spectacular,” said freshman Prescott Herzog. “It is amazing the school had a chance to bring them here. What a great way to start the year.”
Another freshman, Caitlin Stapleton, called it “the best thing the school has done.”
The three-member band, originally from Manchester and now based in Las Vegas where they perform regularly, came to Stevens after Claremont delivered the most votes in the group’s most recent social media poll, Principal Pat Barry said.
Barry said the contests on Facebook determine which New Hampshire town Recycled Percussion will visit. Claremont has placed in the top three in previous polls but was never first until now.
“The feedback was so overwhelming (this time), they just said we need to come to Claremont,” Barry said in the school’s hallway. “They (then) made the decision to come to Stevens.”
Tuesday’s event was filmed for an upcoming episode of the group’s television show, Chaos and Kindness, which airs on WMUR, an ABC affiliate in Manchester.
Claremont has been the subject of negative national attention over an Aug. 28 incident in which an 8-year-old, biracial boy was injured in an alleged hanging incident while playing with older children. Tuesday’s concert, which has a wider profile of its own via the band’s show and social media presence, was a welcome event.
The band posted an upbeat message to its Facebook page the day before: “Tomorrow your day comes, where we invade the high school (a place that needs inspiration and a chance to show the world its spirit).”
Using power tools and drumming on plastic buckets of varying shapes and sizes, and playing a few traditional instruments, the band delivered a loud, pulsating performance that was as impressive for its athleticism as for its music. Members bounded around the makeshift stage in the middle of the gym between and during songs, bringing a loud reaction from the student body of nearly 600.
Justin Spencer, who founded the group in 1995, and Ryan Vezina, thrilled the audience with their drumming on the buckets and on two 10-foot stepladders opened up on stage. They moved rapidly up, down and over the ladders while hitting the rungs and twirling their drumsticks. During the playing of The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby, sparks flew from power sanders touched to metal, producing a buzzing sound.
“It was amazing,” said senior Mercedes Allain, among the Stevens cheerleaders, who along with the football team, formed an aisle and greeted the band with high-fives as they entered a darkened gym. “I was right up front. Their energy is amazing. I could see them 100 times and never get bored.”
Sophomore Sam Sweet thought the day really brought all the students together.
“I’ve never seen the school more united,” said Sweet, dressed in a white shirt to create a “white out” that Spencer had suggested to Barry in an email.
The group delivered more than music; it roamed the halls earlier in the day, making surprise visits to classrooms with a message they see as important and more empowering than the music.
“We truly believe that each one of us here has the opportunity every day to make a difference,” Spencer said during the show. “And in your school today we walked the hallways and did some really cool stuff for some very special people.”
Senior Ethan Sablock was in his English class when the band members walked in and presented him with a large bouquet of flowers.
“I was really surprised,” said Sablock, whose father died 12 years ago. “They just wanted to show me support. They were very nice. I wasn’t expecting it.”
Barry said several other students with unique challenges received flowers as well.
With students packed in tight in front of the stage — their phones held high to record the event — Spencer said students had a “amazing school spirit,” and noted that out of 200 schools, they chose Stevens.
He also had high praise for Barry, calling her “courageous” for being a cancer survivor and offering to do whatever the group needed for its visit to the high school.
Barry gave a “ ‘hell yes’ ” reply when the group called to asked to come to Stevens, Spencer said before inviting her up on stage and presenting her with flowers while students cheered. “This woman is dedicated to a lot of you guys.”
Before capping off the show with a medley of several rock favorites, including hits from the Beatles, KISS, the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and Journey and finishing with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Spencer asked students to remember it doesn’t take a lot to make a difference.
“And what is so unique about kindness, and an act of giving, is it doesn’t require money,” Spencer said. “It just requires little bit of thought and compassion. In a world full of chaos, it is always important to show our kindness.”
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
