As you walk into your classroom, you notice something; Throwback setlists and archived records are distributed unevenly. Vinyl records are on display with songs that may feel unusual for current times. A bass guitar is vibrating across the floorboards and drumsticks clink on the cymbals of the set before quickly transferring to the white circular drums. The whole room feels stuck 30 years in the past. When people think of a boy band, the classic depiction would likely be of teenage dirtbags practicing in their friend’s garage, and probably never a bundle of high school teachers.
NHS teachers David Ferris, Rich Harden, Jason Jasper, and John Sala all have been harmonizing alongside each other for more than two years. All members share a passion and love for their musical instruments, so they unified into a band that reflects just that. Their name? Generation Edge.
“We had wanted something with ‘generation,’ because we used to play cover songs that have been redone and abandoned [in] the 60s and 80s. It was kind of a generation all from different decades,” Harden, the band’s lead singer, said.
Generation Edge first started when a friend who was in need of a singer reached out to Harden. Eventually one of the original band members had to retire, and from there, other members left to pursue other bands. Harden was left longing for more.
“I kept the name and then asked the other teachers. We’ve done Faculty Night Live for a while now, some of us for 15 years. So I asked if they wanted to give it a go. They did,” Harden said.
Ferris, the bass guitarist of the band, recalls the very same question Harden had asked him when reuniting the band. After a few head nods, the band’s legacy continued onward.
“So he says, ‘How about the Faculty Night Live band?’ Hartman, Jasper, Sala and I were all in the Faculty Night Live band already, and so we said, ‘Sure, we’ll try it,’” Ferris said. “We decided to get some setlists, and start practicing. One thing led to another, and we were playing around town and doing different gigs. It’s been really fun.”
Given their experience and expertise, members of the band say it doesn’t require much time for the members to master a song before an event. But Harden says the members had to balance academia with musicality, for example, in preparation for the Miller Palooza that took place in February.
“The nice thing is with all of us teachers, we can practice before school and after school. We’ll practice for an hour before school or an hour and a half after school, so that makes it really good,” Harden said.
Sala says when schedules align, they align well. The drummer of the band enjoys the emotions that arise when they perform and practice together.
“It is totally invigorating. Playing live music is one of the most electrifying experiences I’ve known, especially when it goes well. Not to mention, these guys are very good musicians and awesome people,” Sala said.
Even students who have heard the group perform say they feel the excitement. Junior William Aidan Stevenson recalls seeing the members on stage during Faculty Night Live.
“It’s really cool to hear that there’s still somebody that really does enjoy [playing in a band]. You really feel the closeness of the band members,” Stevenson said.
The relationship between the members is the one aspect the band considers the most important component of the band.
“We all know each other better. In fact, I’ve gone to concerts with Jasper and Hartman. Sala is in my hallway here, so we’ve kind of got something else to talk about. Ferris I’ve known for a while,” Harden said. “It’s fun because they’re great musicians, so that’s the good part for me.”
