N
ormally, the rock concerts are one
of the Music department's
zaniest, most popular events in
the school calendar, and this offering was
no exception. The Woodard Room was
packed to the rafters, almost literally -
good news for stats but not so great for
spectating (unless, of course, like the 62
Carpenter girls, you ran there 15 minutes
early in order to get a good view). There
was, as usual, a wide variety of acts -
Todd Barrett serenading us with John
Mayer, while Pai jammed in a leather
jacket and shades to Red Hot Chilli
Peppers. Plus, the teachers got up to
show us pupils how it's done with Sting
and The Police.
The concert got off to a pretty good start
with Jamiroquai's Runaway, performed by
Joe Merriweather, Alex Grace, Mr Mason
and Paddy Cartwright. It was followed by
Jake Fleming, Robin Danaher and Bryony
House with their version of Somebody that
I Used to Know. A touching tribute to
Fiona Geraghty followed in the form of
Love Songby Sarah Bareilles. Meiling
Daniell-Greenhalgh, Tom Frankham, Tara
Bell, Alex Grace and Rory Smith played
and sang wholeheartedly, and did Fiona
proud.
After this, one of the highlights of the
evening - Robin and Bryony singing
Poison and Wine. There are a lot of new
girl singers coming up the ranks, but
sometimes you've got to love the classics,
and Bryony really does have an
exceptional voice that it's hard to get tired
of. Another old hand, Emily Albery,
treated us to her take on We Found Love
with Archie, Jake and Alex Madge. They
were, however, followed by some of the
only people attending who could have
outdone them - Albery senior and
everyone's-favourite-musical-maths-teacher
Mr Mason giving us Message in a Bottle,
something of a timeless classic really.
Up and coming star Minnie Taylor seems
to be finding her vocal wings, and her
rendition of People Help the People
accompanied by Emily Albery, was just
shy of breathtaking. An enthusiastic Give
It All Backfrom Noah and the Whale done
by musical madhatters Emily, Robin, Will
MacEacharn, Flora Cohen and Pippa
O'Neill preceded Todd's Why Georgiaand
a hardcore rock, eardrum shattering
version of By the Wayfrom Red Hot Chilli
Peppers from Shaun Abrahams, Pai
Wangmontree, Jonny Seale and Rory
Smith. Pai turned up in a leather jacket
and shades plus a red rose clamped firmly
between his teeth.
Robin fans (and let's be honest, they
probably are their own social minority)
were pleased with one of his newest
versions of a John Mayer song,
Comfortable. Then a duet by Jake and
Archie of Rolling in the Deep, plus a little
bit of Someone Like You, though
apparently not enough to make it a true
'mash-up.'
Finally, the evening ended with a toetapper
from Joe Merriweather, Paddy, Will
MacEacharn, Simon Chicken and Hamish
Manger performing Fill My Little World.
It was an excellent evening and, according
to Jake, "probably the best" rock concert
we've had in a while. I have to say I'm
inclined to agree.
March
Rock Concert
by Ella Watts
Aluredian 51