On Saturday, Sep. 21, Archie Williams bands showcased their Teen Takeover performance during San Anselmo’s weekly Live on the Avenue night. Directed by Archie Williams’s music teacher Mario Aparicio, Archie Williams Jazz Band, student band Outside Set, and student band Reddy for Geddy put on a show outside the San Anselmo Town Hall. Live On The Avenue provides live entertainment and activities in the heart of San Anselmo every Friday and Saturday, this week featuring food stands and requested donations for bands.
The event took place on the grass lawn outside the San Anselmo Town Hall, with a stage surrounded by trees and decorated with outdoor string lights. The many audience members sat on picnic blankets or stood just across from the stage, creating a comfortable and scenic setting.
The Archie Williams Jazz Band began their set at 5:30 p.m. Featuring 24 Archie Williams students, the Jazz Band is significantly larger than in previous years. Despite a few minor sound issues, including a brief moment when the mic gave out, the band didn’t miss a beat. They played a set of both traditional and new jazz cover songs, including “From the Start” by musician Laufey.
Following the Archie Williams Jazz Band, the student rock band Outside Set performed, drawing a large crowd including Archie Williams students and teachers. They kicked off their set with a series of traditional rock songs by Stevie Ray Vaughan, followed by other artists. Lead singer, junior Julia Wise performed with incredible range and stage presence. Juniors Ben Bergen, Finn Gleason, Mason O’Byrne, Teo Donelly, and Fin Donelly played instrumentals together beautifully, demonstrating how much effort they put into their set.
Ready For Geddy, another Archie Williams band, closed out the event. The most popular band of the night, Reddy for Geddy stood out with their ease with each other and brightness on stage. Senior members Noah Casey, Zeke Cunningham, Elliot Garneau, Calin Blodgett, and Archie Williams graduate Casey Sorensen played covers of rock songs including “Tom Sawyer” by Rush. Lead singer Casey’s performance and vocals impressed the crowd and received booming applause.
Teen Takeover and Live On The Avenue is a community-oriented experience with activities for audience members of all ages to enjoy, such as Legos and bubbles for younger children and nearby restaurants and dining for adult attendees. The Saturday night feature of Teen Takeover created the perfect blend of community and music, with each band featuring unique takes on the song covers. Next week, Live on The Avenue will host Staggerwing: An Americana, Blues, and Rock Band in front of the San Anselmo Town Hall
