Hendersonville – HCPS teachers and professional musicians also played mostly rock and roll hit covers last Friday in a packed Oklawaha Brewing Co., at 147 1st Ave. E. in Downtown Hendersonville.
HCEF Executive Director Peggy Marshall called the strong turnout and community support “amazing.” Donations were accepted in lieu of a cover charge. Marshall and HCPS Supt. Mark Garrett, who attended, are among many people impressed by the level of musicianship and stage presence that night.
East Henderson senior Jadyn Shook joined the main act, the After School Special teacher band. She sang with keyboardist Carrie Morrison on Morrison’s own “Highway Song.” Morrison later called Shook’s singing “amazing.” Shook said, “It’s always so fun to sing such harmonies.” In February, Morrison performed her song with the East High Garage Band as a filler act in the school talent show.
“Jadyn singing with us added to the energy and our rapport,” rhythm guitarist Josh Dunkin said. “We were a collective of musicians. We had only a brush-up rehearsal. But in the show, everyone was listening to one another and on point.”
Where Eagles Dare
East’s Garage Band, the first of three acts on Friday, is led by electric guitarist Clay Gaitskill. The Chicago native has taught at East Henderson for ten of his 24 years of instructing theater arts.
The East act features singers Sidney Knapp and Shook. They start senior year classes on Aug. 12. Junior Estrella Martinez drummed. Gaitskill’s daughter, Sarah Gaitskill, played bass. She is an East alum, and a Savannah College of Art and Design sophomore. Electric guitarist Karina Konko, another East senior, did not make the show.
These Eagles performed six songs. Sarah’s favorite is Queen’s ultra-dramatic “The Show Must Go On.”
Singing such songs is fitting for these expressive Eagles. Shook and Knapp enjoy performing in East’s musical theater and also chorus. Both aspire to major in musical theater in college. Knapp plays mellophone in the Eagle marching band, and the French horn in the school’s concert band.
They sang Gary Clark’s version of The Beatles’ “Come Together.” Knapp and Shook exchanged glances and grins while singing the lines “Got to be good looking, ‘cause he’s so hard to see.” They also interacted when bellowing out Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.” Shook said, “‘Sid’ and I glanced at another and smiled when we sang, ‘Hey! I’m gonna get you too. Another one bites the dust!’” They like the 1980 hit for its dramatic back-and-forth vocal exchanges. Shook also pointed to its hypnotic, pounding guitar riffs and drumming, while interviewing with the Tribune.
They also performed Redbone’s R&B “Come and Get Your Love” and Joan Jett’s slow-grinding “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and changed the mood with the Cranberries’ serene “Linger.”
Main Act
The After School Special’s co-lead guitarists are Gaitskill and Tony Campbell, who teaches Career and Technical Education robotics and engineering at Flat Rock Middle. Burly Campbell roamed through the packed crowd during a guitar solo.
Dunkin was the most animated performer. He teaches music at Hendersonville Elementary (HES). Dunkin sang such hits as Tom Petty’s folk-pop “American Girl.”
Keyboardist Carrie Morrison channeled Stevie Nicks on Fleetwood Mac’s flowing “Dreams,” and Pat Benatar on the in-your-face “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” The second set began with her “Highway Song.” Its chorus starts with a route she took driving back home: “64 to 75, to 40 to 26. I’m heading home. I gotta get onto the road. I need my mountain fix.”
The Sliding Rockers’ bassist Buddy Seagraves, drummer Isaac Wells, and percussionist Dave “Dr. Z” Zimmer were also in the main act. Though not there on Friday, other After School Special musicians include Scott Cowan on banjo and percussion, and Marlow Elementary music teacher Austin Williams on drums.
The opening act, Free Range Revival, is the duo of Phil Brittain and Andrea Jackson.
For more information about Education Foundation programs and how to help, check online at hcefnc.org.