This year, the annual Powder Puff game had its first-ever halftime show. A student-made band named Dysart was one of the two bands that performed. The members of Dysart, Dylan Neff (Guitarist), Aden Bohan (Drummer), Bryson Gissiner (Vocalist), Tyler Saunders (Bassist), and Damion Skaggs (Guitarist), played ‘Davidian’ by Machine Head. This group not only showed off their musical talent but also created an unforgettable experience for themselves and everyone in attendance.

“The idea of a band all started in seventh grade playing guitar with my buddy Damion,” Guitarist Dylan Neff said. “He would come over, and we would practice and write whatever music we could. We met Aden, our drummer, in our freshman year when we needed a temporary bassist for a Halloween gig. Later, we met our current bassist, Tyler, through Aden. About a year after, we met Bryson, our vocalist. At the time, he wasn’t that big into our type of music, but once we brought up the forming of a band, he was all for it.”

Preparing to play in front of hundreds of students is not an easy task, but this band nailed it. Setting up began long before the performance day, with planning that involved selecting the right song to play to reflect the band’s unique style, and practicing for extended periods of time.  Practicing regularly became a crucial part of their routine, with the band meeting several times a week to rehearse. Ensuring that every little thing was perfect required a great deal of commitment and dedication.

“We would always try to meet up at least once a week; it takes a lot to make it work when there’s school, work, and other stuff going on in our lives,” Drummer Aden Bohan said. “When we were able to have band practice, it would last basically all day. Every opportunity we had to practice, we never took it for granted. Practices usually consisted of us playing the song over and over and over again. We didn’t care if we got sick of the song; the only thing on our minds was to nail it. It took a lot of work, but everything fell into place and we nailed ‘Davidian’.”

Playing at the halftime show was momentous for Dysart, marking a significant milestone in the band’s journey. One of the goals for the band was to secure a gig in front of a large crowd, so performing at the halftime show was a significant event for them. The opportunity to perform was not only a testament to their hard work and passion for music, but also a chance to showcase their talent to the entire school.

“Performing at the halftime show was like something from a dream of mine,” Vocalist Bryson Gissiner said. “I had always thought that going up in front of hundreds of people would be terrifying and that I would embarrass myself, but as soon as we stepped on stage, I just knew we were gonna kill.”

Dysart gained a large amount of attention after the halftime show, sparking conversations and Instagram posts around the school. This performance served as an introduction to a new genre of music for many students in the audience. Metal music isn’t as publicized nowadays, often overshadowed by more mainstream genres in the media. Following the performance, students showed a newfound interest in exploring metal music, with some even creating and sending fan art to the band.

“I have seen some of the artwork done for us and I think it’s pretty amazing,” Bassist Tyler Saunders said. “I think we’ll get more the longer we play. The halftime show was really great for us; I feel like not only did we get to show everyone what we could do, but it definitely got the name out. The videos that people took of us playing got passed around and posted, which really got us a good amount of attention.”

Being in a band creates a unique connection among its members, fostering a bond that goes beyond just playing music together. The shared experience of creating, rehearsing, and performing builds a deep sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. Band members learn to rely on each other, both musically and personally, as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of pursuing a common goal. This close collaboration often leads to lasting friendships and a supportive attachment that extends beyond the stage.

“I feel like our band has a super strong, super close connection,” Guitarist Dylan Neff said. “After playing the halftime show, I think we’ve all felt kinda locked in together, you know? It’s shown us how a couple of instruments and ideas can form tight bonds between us boys. Our band may seem like five random weird kids to some, but to me, it consists of my friends, my brothers.”

Follow Dysart on Instagram at: @dysartofficial