On March 6, LM Live staged their fifth show of the year, performing a Grateful Dead tribute in honor of the late guitarist Bob Weir, a former member of the famous jam band.
LM Live is an official school club that stages live, themed music performances each month with a rotating cast of band members. Shows take place in the LGI during Lunch & Learn, and all students are welcome to inquire about the opportunity to perform.
This month, the lineup featured LM Live President Sawyer Friedman-Olshan ’26 on lead guitar, Benjamin Bancoff ’26 on rhythm guitar, Hudson Sherman ’26 making his debut on vocals, Thomas Gorman ’27 on bass, Gabe Tinker ’27 debuting on drums, Alistair Browning ’26 on keyboard and vocals, and Mia Tatar ’28 on background vocals.
With their tight solos, steady drums, and stellar vocals, LM Live certainly did the Grateful Dead justice. When asked what made him want to start the club this year, Friedman-Olshan explained, “There isn’t enough live music at school… LM is more than just a school, we’re a community.” Frequent member Bancoff agreed, referencing “the community it builds” and that it was “something the school needed for a long time.”
Their setlist consisted of hit songs “Help on the Way / Slipknot!,” “Sugar Magnolia,” “Estimated Prophet,” and “Eyes of the World.” Staying true to the band’s tradition of “jamming,” or extending live songs through improvisational playing, LM Live jammed out “Eyes of the World” for more than half the recorded track’s length.
The club intends to establish an immersive and welcoming live music scene through its accessible nature. LM students who had not even previously thought about performing live have been exposed to live shows. Sherman, who had never previously performed in front of an audience, credited LM Live as an “opportunity that doesn’t come around very often, especially for someone who’s always wanted to stand up in front of a crowd and perform.” Through this experience he was able to share both his well-tuned vocals and groovy dance moves.
Tatar, who has already performed for LM Live, explained how “It’s nice that we’re building this community by bringing together live music and exposure for our generation to older and more diverse music.” Its members are excited to see where it will go next year and beyond.
LM computer science teacher Justin Mansor, the advisor and sponsor of the club, mentioned the importance of giving the youth opportunities to perform: “When I was young… there wasn’t really much opportunity to play music live, you know, you’d play in your friend’s basement or something… The reason I want to sponsor LM Live is just to give kids an opportunity to play live music because there aren’t a lot of opportunities for it, especially if you’re not over 21.”
Mansor, who also often plays with the band, went on to say, “Watching it is the best part. I played with them a handful of times, and that’s always fun too. But my favorite part is just sitting and watching. It’s not about me. It’s about them, you know?”
LM Live plans to stage its final show of the year on April 10, this time focusing on the 80s indie scene. Expect hits from essential alternative bands like The Smiths, The Cure, New Order, and more. The performers, featuring numerous debuts, will rehearse throughout the next several weeks in preparation for the show.
Through a combination of passion, dedication, and a shared love for music, LM Live has cultivated a valuable new aspect of LM student culture.
