Life in a high school band

It was right around halfway through my junior year of high school when my friend Ben asked if I wanted to swing by and jam with a band he was in. Ben went to a different school (PRHS) but played trumpet in my shcool's jazz band and we ended jamming after every jazz band rehearsal. Him on guitar and myself on drums. After I jammed with his band, If You Insist, it was an instant click. We went on as a five piece to win the first show which was a talent show at PRHS. We thought we were rock stars....we were awful.

However we kept at it, progressing as musicians and became much more technical. Time went on and we ended up letting the lead singer go. That was when it instantly became serious. We recorded a single, played way more shows and tightened up the screws. Having a good relationship with some local bands like Sparks the Rescue, Newbury, Cheers to Verona, and many more.

Sadly though, I was let go on June 8th, 2014. There was a lot of animosity between them and myself due to their approach to the break up with me. They ignored me for about a month then showed up at my house with my drum set and all my stuff. It was a rough summer with a lot of bad texts sent back and fourth.

That being said however, I look back on it a couple years later and have only happy thoughts. I met my absolute best friend in the world, Nick (the other guitarist besides Ben) and it's cool to still be so close after going through that lineup change. It taught me so much, not just about music but life skills as well. All in all, to whoever is reading this, go join a band. It's like a relationship in that there's ups and downs, but it's something that feels amazing in the moment and to look back on. You'll make memories that you will carry with you forever, make relationships with people that you'll come to love, learn how to run off of fast food and no sleep, and most of all feel alive with people you love.