Petey Menz ’11
Executive Editor

The rock bands of Westport— Bluebird Handwriting, Mind on the Moon, Max ‘n’ Jeffrey, Big Screen Actors, Purple Monks, or the now defunct Sleeping Giants— don’t have much in common, except that they are all largely composed of members of the Staples class of 2010. This had led some to believe that the Staples music scene may suffer once these seniors graduate and leave Westport to go to col- lege. However, most of the seniors who are involved with the scene feel like this won’t be a problem.

Robert Mathis ‘10, who has been involved in numerous Staples bands, admits that the class of 2010 “has been pretty heavily involved [with making music]” but doesn’t feel that their departure will mean the end for Westport music.

Furthermore, Mathis believes that the very idea of a “Staples scene” is misguided, and the departure of the class of 2010 will thus not severely impact local music.

“It’s difficult to call [local music] a strictly Staples scene,” Mathis said. “That perception mainly comes from Woodland Blue and Midi & the Modern Dance, which were strictly Staples students.”

Indeed, Max Yassky, the drummer for Mathis’s current band, Big Screen Actors, is a student at Fairfield Warde High School. Other local bands also include members from outside of Staples; electronic collective Bluebird Handwriting has even managed to work with Sacramento, Calif., musician Joseph Green.

Bluebird Handwriting member Mikey Holmes ‘10, who has “been creating music for the last almost four years and creating music that isn’t awful for the last almost three,” also believes that underclassmen will rise to the challenge once the class of 2010 leaves.

“There’s probably a lot of good musicians that are keeping to themselves,” Holmes said.

“I’ve got a buddy who’s a freshman who is going to be creating some ridiculously awesome stuff by the time he’s a senior.” But Holmes also believes that the importance of the class of 2010 may be overestimated.

“Honestly, it’s not like our grade had a ridiculous amount of musicians,” Holmes said. “I can only think of about four or so bands in my class.”

Despite the optimism of Holmes and Mathis, freshman musician Jake Shore ‘13 feels that the class of 2010 will be a tough act to follow.

“I try to make as much mu- sic as I can with as many friends as I can get together, but none of it really becomes anything,” Shore said. “Other freshmen are definitely talented, they just don’t do much with their ability.”

Despite the fact that Shore, who enjoys “programming what I can with synths and playing around with it,” believes that un- derclassman bands will be formed once the class of 2010 leaves, he “can’t imagine it’ll be as creative as anything from the class of 2010.”

“All I’ve seen [from my class] is annoying ‘80s band covers,” Shore said.

Though Shore remains somewhat less than optimistic, other underclassman musicians feel that the scene will survive once the class of 2010 leaves.

“I used to think that I was out of the norm as an underclassman musician at Staples, but then I realized that you really just have to find the other musicians,” Ellen Kempner ’12 said.

“With all of the support that the music students get at Staples, I feel that there will still be a good amount of music being produced.”