Coffeehouse!!!

I was a little disappointed to miss the Brightblack Morning Light show in Eagle Rock yesterday, but we had our own show to put on at Franklin High School! Every now and then (the random appearances are part of its charm) we do a little thing at school called the Coffeehouse. This was started by our drama teacher, David Levine, and grew out of a desire to showcase talented Franklin students (and teachers : )) outside of the normal “talent show” environment. The difference is kind of subtle, but the emphasis is less on the “performance” and more on hanging out at a cool scene, kind of like the beatnik days of yore. There was originally an attempt to get the students to snap instead of clap after each act, but it was a little silly. Some of the Coffeehouses have been tons of fun though!!

It’s all pretty informal, which is probably why it’s been so successful. Franklin used to have a normal talent show and no one ever went, but the Coffeehouse is pretty popular. I think people like the feeling that there’s less of a divide between the performers and the audience (no backstage for example), and that they can eat and drink while they’re watching (ironically, no coffee however). Anyway, it’s usually packed.

As usual, there tends to be the “school” acts first – dancing groups, choir, etc. Then there are usually some poetry or solo acoustic performers. There are some great young poets at Franklin, and this is often the best part of the show! And then we have the bands.

For some reason it’s become traditional to do the metal bands first (I think to get them out of the way). I can’t say that I enjoy them as much as I would have twenty years ago, but it’s kind of charming to see how every group of students has its head bangers who play as loud and fast as they can. This year we had a group called Massacre performing a song called “Massacre”. You can probably imagine it : )

The part that I get the most involved in usually comes after this. We put together an informal, but pretty tight band of teachers, students, and actual professional musicians who back up some really good student singers. The highlight this year was a really talented student singing “Stand by Your Man” of all things. Strangely enough, the students loved it! Maybe 70's-style country is set for a comeback.

The usual show-closer is a number where we get as many students and players that we can, and do some ridiculous dramatic song. In the past we have done Bohemian Rhapsody (tons of work) and Paradise by the Dashboard Lights (totally absurd). The common factors are always that we try to get the band sounding as good as possible, and that the lead singer is a history teacher Sam Kullens, who is a horrible singer, but willing to make a complete fool out of himself!

This year it was Purple Rain, and Sam did a pretty convincing Prince squeal. I’m not sure about the outfit though (where’s the purple???). It wasn’t our best closer ever (I still think the first Total Eclipse of the Heart was pretty great), but it’s been a looooooong school year, and we’re all kind of limping along, so we did what we could. It was still a fun Coffeehouse!