News of the new band, The Current, has been circling the school, with updates in the daily announcements at town hall meetings, but what’s up with this mysterious band? 
 

The Current, previously known as Coast2Coast, comprises members Chloe Fuller, Asa Bergman, Sebastian Reale, Caden Yang, Carsyn Cammerer, and Avery Sklar… all current sophomores and juniors at Portledge. Chloe plays piano and sings, Asa plays guitar, drums, and sings, Seb plays drums and keys, Caden plays bass, Carsyn plays guitar and sings, and Avery is the band's brand new drummer! 

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The band recently changed their name from Coast2Coast to The Current, as they decided that the previous name didn’t truly resonate with them. Like an ocean current, the band is adaptable and is good at “rolling with the punches.” 

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In the spring, new member Avery Sklar joined the band. I spoke with Avery about her experience joining the band, and she told me about how it created bonds with community members as a new student this year and strengthened her connection with music altogether. She said, “I didn’t play as much as I used to, so it was a great motivator for me to return to my old roots. The band has also been so welcoming to me that it’s like we formed a small family. Being with them brought that spark back—the spark of banging drums, a lot.”

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In an interview with Asa, he described the band as a family, being so close to one another. They spend hours and days together in rehearsals for their gigs, and just for the love of music, and Asa even describes notifications for their band group chat going off 24/7! Working with members of such different musical tastes, some more into rock, others into country, the band has to make compromises and adapt consistently to appeal to each other's preferences. Despite differences in interests, the band members' relationships keep them together and even strengthen them. 

Rehearsals are an important part of the band's routine, as they are essential for bringing together each member’s talents. Before rehearsals, the band makes a set list for an upcoming gig and develops a plan to ensure a productive and organized rehearsal. They send this schedule into their group chat and practice their songs individually before going into the rehearsal space. The band then sits for hours and plays with few breaks, focusing on what they learned and bringing everything together. Rehearsals last around 5-6 hours, draining all the members entirely. While these practices can be stressful, especially in preparation for a performance, it’s also fun, as all the members love music and working together. 

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The Nutty Irishman (March 2nd):

The band got this gig through Asa’s family. In an interview, he said he knew the assistant owner of the restaurant and asked to play for a night. 

The Nutty Irishman had country night, beloved by Asa and Carsyn. While not every member is primarily a country player, they were interested in trying out the new genre and were eager to play with an audience. 

Played: Asa, Sebastian, Chloe, Carsyn

 

Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club (April 7th):

Mr. Suzda helped set the band up with Kelly, who was in charge of the event. Along with this, Chloe & Carsyn also knew the club from volunteer work.

Played: Asa, Sebastian, Chloe, Caden, Avery
 

Portledge Gala (May 8th):

Mr. Suzda asked the band at this year's Gala! The event was very successful, and this smaller section of the band, asked to play without vocalists, enjoyed the performance and the chance to attend! 

Played: Asa, Caden, Sebastian

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Before any gig, the band has a pre-show ritual. They find a quiet place where no one can see, have a moment to say a few words, and reconnect before going on stage. It gives them a moment to center themselves and prepare, helping with nerves or focusing energy on their performance. As a new band, they have to deal with much rejection. There have been occasions when they were denied an opportunity to play, but they stayed strong and kept moving forward, not allowing anything to get in their way. This shows the true adaptability and courage of the group, as they bravely handle any rejection and go with the flow, as The Current. 

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The band is already thinking ahead about some plans! An inspiring gig IS coming up at “My Father’s Place” on May 31st at 8:00 pm– the band is opening for musician Duncan Sheik! Duncan Sheik is known for his song “Barely Breathing” and composed the music for Spring Awakening, which won eight Tony Awards in 2007, including Best Orchestrations and Best Original Score. 

The band got the gig through Sebastian’s mother, Melissa Reale. Duncan Sheik is her client, and Mrs. Reale helped him set up the event and proposed that he have the band open for him. 

Tickets are available here: Duncan Sheik | MyFathersPlace.com for those interested! 

Playing: Full band! 

 

The Current is interested in playing in Oysterfest over the summer, and the members are always looking for more gigs and opportunities to play for an audience. The band also hopes to get into the recording studio more, so there’s something to keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for! 

 

Quick Q&A!

Each member’s favorite song to play is…  

Asa: Superstition or Freeborn Man

Avery: Somebody Told Me

Chloe: Whip It Beat It

Seb: Superstition

Caden: Can’t Stop

Carsyn: Superstition or Revival

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Get excited and support the band at the upcoming gig at “My Father’s Place” on May 31st at 8:00 pm! Keep up with them on Instagram @we.are.thecurrent and look out for more news on the band as they keep growing, playing, and loving music!