Ramstock is a Manual High School tradition during Red/White week. After school at 2:15 p.m., student bands battle in front of their peers in the auditorium. After the show, students can vote on their favorite band. The band that receives the most votes gets to perform during the pep rally on Friday before the Male/Manual game. This year, Ramstock will be on Oct. 27.
Arhythmia
An arhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm, however, Arhythmia is Graham Mulrooney’s (11, HSU) band. Mulrooney is the bassist and backup vocalist. The other members are guitarist and lead vocalist Evan Davis, a senior at Eastern High School and drummer Sam Smith, a senior at Trinity.
The trio met at the Louisville School of Rock, which is part of the largest music school franchise in the country. Arythmia encountered one another through music lessons. Lessons combine one-on-one instruction with band practices.
“We came up with it [the band name] because all of the songs we have written are sappy…songs about love and whatever,” Mulrooney said.
The band performed their first show together a couple of weeks ago at Spinelli’s pizzeria, which often hosts local music performances. After Ramstock, the band plans to do more gigs, including another one at Spinelli’s on Nov. 22.
This is the band’s first Ramstock performance. It also happens to be Mulrooney’s first Ramstock ever, since he transferred from Holy Cross High at the beginning of this year.
“I am excited to just play and hear all the other bands,” Mulrooney said.
Arythmia is releasing their debut album soon. You can find them on Instagram @arythmia.theband.
The Wannabes
Elsa Hargis had always wanted to start a band for Ramstock and was talking about it in her English class, and Stanley Alvarez (12, HSU), vocalist, offered to join. Elsa Hargis convinced Locke Hargis (10, YPAS) to be the bassist and Tristan Meredith (12, YPAS) to be the backup vocalist. Both Elsa Hargis and Alvarez searched on social media, finding willing people to join them
”I was volun-told to be in the group,” Meredith said.
The band was completed by Nora Wolf (11, HSU), rhythm guitarist, Will Naber, (10, YPAS), drummer and Dylan Feese, a junior at Bullitt East, lead guitarist. The band immediately jumped into practicing.
The band describes their rehearsals as chaotic. However, The Wannabes run through their songs and end up satisfied with them.
“There’s usually a shared moment of joy and celebration when we finish a song and it sounds really good,” Alvarez said
Even though the band was originally formed for Ramstock, the band has plans to play gigs around the city. You can find out more about them from their instagram @wannabesband_official.
“There’s so much we want to do and we want to be,” Elsa Hargis said.
OUCHH!!
OUCHH!! is returning for their second Ramstock performance, with a drummer in tow.
“When you have a drummer, man, the whole band is just immediately leveled up like times 10,” Cherry Crigler (11, VA), vocalist, said.
Ash Bowling (11, HSU), guitarist and Sam Richardson (Manual VA alumn), bassist, are both returning. Their new drummer is Callie Cartwright, an eighth grader at Walden Middle School.
The band came together last year before Ramstock.
“Me and Ash watched Ramstock. We were like… that’s so cool. We have to do that. Let’s form a band, and then we took forever to actually start an actual band, and then we found Sam,” Crigler said.
OUCHH!! has original songs coming soon.
No Outlet
All of No Outlet’s members met through YPAS programs: choir and marching band.
MJ Alt (11, YPAS), vocalist and Victoria Powell (11, YPAS), guitarist decided they wanted to start a band.
Powell is in the Crimson Sound marching band, and she recruited Noah Fields (12, HSU) to be their drummer, and Jake Rydberg (12, MST) to be their bassist.
Alt is in YPAS vocal, and so is Tony Aloise (12, YPAS), keyboardist.
“A lot of us came from YPAS programs…There’s a lot of emphasis on individual preparation, so a lot of our process is individual and just practice on your own,” Jake Rydberg (12, MST), bassist said.
The band is hoping to continue playing together after Ramstock. You can find them on Instagram @wearenooutlet.
Five Finger Discount
Five Finger Discount is also performing at Ramstock, however, were unable to be interviewed and could not be found on social media.
Ramstock will be right after school on Monday in the Manual auditorium. Students should stay until the last performance to vote.
