Starting a band has long been a favorite project for ambitious and musical teenagers. At Arcata High School, which has spawned several student music groups over the years, this ambition is still thriving.
Drummer and AHS senior Jack Dixon recounted the creation of his band, Sweetums. “Rowan wanted to perform for the talent show and we just got a bunch of people together. We had a bunch of fun at the talent show. So we just started practicing more.” Rowan Magnuson, a junior, is the band’s saxophonist. The other current band members are Ava Jones (senior), Thomas FitzMaurice (junior), Bellamy Nofsinger (sophomore), and Julian Wan (college sophomore).
“We like groovy music,” Dixon said of the band’s musical style. “Bellamy’s mom for sure puts us on to stuff. And same with Bellamy. He has a bunch of cool songs that he wants us to play, and he’s hoping to write some stuff for us.”
FitzMaurice agreed that original music was a possibility for the band in the future. But he said that his main goal for Sweetums is for the members “to stay committed and just keep trying to move forward.” He explained that it has been difficult at times for the musicians to find time to practice in their busy schedules.
Bellamy Nofsinger is the band’s keyboardist. Fitzmaurice credits Bellamy’s mother, the critically acclaimed violinist Jenny Scheinman, with getting the band together. “She kind of got us all together to play together for Bellamy to have music in his life and stuff, which I thought was awesome,” he explained.
“We usually lean towards jazz standards… But we play a bunch of different stuff,” FitzMaurice said. “We play some funk and some rock.” Sweetums has performed music by artists including Pink Floyd, Herbie Hancock, and the Doors.
Bassist Ava Jones spoke positively about playing with Sweetums. Although some performances are better than others, “It’s never been a bad gig,” she said.
However, Jones doesn’t see herself continuing with the band next year, despite plans to stay in Humboldt after graduation. “I’ll be in a couple other bands. I’m starting something outside of school with a couple of kids from AAI,” she said.
The Sweetums members have been recovering from illness after a trip to Saint Lucia for a steelpan workshop, but they will be ready for their gig in June at the Moonstone Winery in Trinidad.
Arcata seniors Ines Shaw and Sasha Dronkers started playing music together in their sophomore year in their Arcata Arts Institute music class. Now, seniors, they are officially a band, the Marigolds. The duo’s typical setup consists of both girls playing acoustic guitar and singing in harmony. They write and perform original music as well as covers of a variety of pop and folk songs.
Sasha’s father, Mike Dronkers, is in his band, Jacki & the Jollies. He helped get the Marigolds their first gig at Outer Space Arcata in January.
“Seeing a bunch of people come to that show was really cool because it’s not just a school event, it’s something that Sasha and I put together… Feeling that support also helps motivate me to keep going,” I. Shaw said. The Marigolds opened for Revelers Three, another local band that Mike had a connection to. “It was our first show and theirs too, which was also cool, getting to all experience something new,” she added.
“A lot of people from AAI showed up in support… They did amazing. And the band that they opened for was also amazing,” Rosa Shaw, I. Shaw’s younger sister said. “And [Revelers Three] was also amazing.”
Ava Jones, who has seen the Marigolds perform several times and played concerts with them through AAI, also praised The They harmonize really well. They’re both good guitar players and they’ve got good energy on stage.
I. Shaw named Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift as musical inspirations. “I really do think she’s a musical genius,” I. Shaw says of Swift. “She’s incredible.” I. Shaw and Dronkers have performed songs by both artists, including “Nothing New” and “Smoke Signals.”
You can see the Marigolds play at the next AAI show on April 27 at Humboldt Brews in Arcata.
