Gig Night II! – Emi S

Gig Night II! – Emi S

The second gig night of the year occurred last week, this time held on a Friday instead of a Saturday due to House Shout. Don’t all you weekly boarders feel lucky you got to experience an RHS gig night…

Jacob A opened this year’s performances fantastically with a crowd favourite: Stacy’s Mom (Fountains of Wayne), followed by an energetic rendition of Still Into You (Paramore) by Hebe M. Georgina L followed with This is the Life (Amy MacDonald) , Imogen T singing Torn (Natalie Imbruglia) after this. Other pop acts included Just the Two of Us (Bill Withers & Grover Washington) sung by Harry R & Raphael O, a Bruno Mars medley sung by Pop Choir, and Heart of Glass (Blondie) sung by Izzy B, who opened after the interval.

We also had a fair share of ballads this year, Poppy L and Daniel O both singing Elvis Presley; Can’t Help Falling in Love and If I Can Dream respectively. Ayoola O nailed the vocal runs in Read All About It (Emeli Sandé) whilst Erin K performed a tender rendition of Lift Me Up (Rihanna). Kiera W sang powerfully in Love in the Dark (Adele), as did Raphael O with Golden Hour (JVKE) – plus a bonus saxophone solo from Beau L. Props goes to this year’s first-time gig night performers, Ella I with Run Run Like a River (JAMICA) and Harry R with Hold Me While You Wait (Lewis Capaldi).

Rock acts included Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes) sung by Nik P and Joshua M, with Connor B on drums and Emily H on guitar, and I Predict a Riot (Kaiser Chiefs) sung by Ned C, with Charlie C on drums. Daniil D’s energetic performance, known only as “The Russian Song” (actually ЕЁ ПАРЕНЬ РЕВНОВАЛ by FISHY) was saved by Mia D’s bass skills after my amp cut out. The crowd also enjoyed a distortion-fuelled Song 2 (Blur) and Don’t Look Back in Anger (Oasis) by Joe & co., with Roman R performing for the first time on guitar. Charlie R, in his penultimate gig night, performed an original song that brought his own flair to a gig night full of classics.

Classics that made a return this year included Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis) sung by Oli B, with a piano solo from Lex A (who still somehow smashed it with an injured arm) and Careless Whisper (George Michael), sung by Jacob A, with the iconic saxophone line from Jack E. Following this, we heard a performance of Superstition (Stevie Wonder), also sung by Jacob A, with Oli C & Jack E on brass, and a dynamic performance of I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) by Lydia M. Scarlet A followed on from last year and sang Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, before Oli C & Oli W ended the night with a duet of All About You (McFly).

The majority of songs were accompanied by the house band, made up of Charlie R, Ed R, Lex A, Mia D, Katya D, Lee O, Jameson H, Oli A-A, Deaglan T and Ovie A. Other accompanists included Beau L, Oli C, Jack E, Carrie B, Bethany L, Johannes J, Tony A and Steven L.

And a massive thank you to Ms Double for enduring many sleepless nights to organise this.