WHS opens talent showcase
By Scott Nicholson

The stage is set, the lights go down, and the first notes cut across the Watauga High School auditorium.

It’s not a drama club presentation of “My Fair Lady,” it’s the high school’s first open mic talent show of the year. The Open Mic night was started last year by Nathen Sheets, and his mother, teacher Deborah Sheets, volunteered to head up the effort. In the inaugural event last November, there were five acts performing and about 50 students attended. By the final show of the year, there were 17 performances and a crowd of about 400.

“The kids that come get real excited about it,” Deborah Sheets said. “Kids this age don’t get to hear live music unless it’s orchestra or (marching) bands.”

The organizers formed a club to sponsor the events and a small charge collected at last year’s seven open mic nights allowed the club to purchase a sound system with a 16-channel mixing board. Students Jeb Holmes and Matt Williams spent Friday afternoon setting it up, and Sheets said the club still owed about $800. Once the system is paid for, Sheets hopes the club will take on some community projects.

The initial open mic nights were held in the gym lobby because the auditorium was often booked, but the sound quality wasn’t as good there. This year, the events will be held in the theater, which also allows more people to watch while seated.

Performers play a mixture of genres, much of it original music. Sheets said while most of the music is modern rock, a bluegrass band performed last year and got a standing ovation.

While there are some adult volunteers, most of the organization and set-up is handled by students.

Senior Jeb Holmes, who has been performing as a guitarist for years, is playing with Dillimmish, a Christian rock group whose members met at Boone United Methodist Church. “Around Boone, there aren’t many opportunities for underage people to see live music,” Holmes said. “Everyone I’ve talked to really enjoys it.”

Dillimmish bassist Jason Krontz said the group had played at last year’s event. “We get pretty good crowds, and it’s a chance to get a band together and play with people,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity.”

Bruce Knapp plays bass in a duo called Indy Sky with Mick Anderson. He played in a different duo last year, and the open mic nights have been his only public performances besides playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the eighth grade. Knapp doesn’t take band class and is grateful for a stage, especially since he’s considering a career as a professional musician. “It’s really cool that the school lets us do this,” he said.

“It gives a lot of undiscovered people some light into what they’re playing.”

While most open mics are free-form, the ones at Watauga High School are structured and performers must sign up early. At Friday’s event, solo songwriters Taylor Johnson and Ben Rudolf played, along with Indy Sky, Dillimmish and a band called the Bonjoes. Sheets expects a number of other groups to participate over the course of the year.

The next event hasn’t been scheduled but Sheets said is will probably be in December.

* Scott Nicholson may be contacted at nicholson@wataugademocrat.com