On Thursday, March 21st, Damn Tall Buildings performed at James S. Rickards High School for more than 300 high school students, hosted by Opening Nights in Class. With a name that turns heads, Damn Tall Buildings is an eclectic, three-piece bluegrass group with members Max Capistran (guitarist/lead vocalist), Sasha Dubyk (bassist/lead vocalist), and Avery Ballotta (fiddler/vocalist). At the beginning of the show, Damn Tall Buildings asked if there were any fans of bluegrass, and the students proclaimed, “NO!” This did not deter the trio from exposing the high schoolers to the quality, energetic bluegrass music deeply rooted in American culture and history. Damn Tall Buildings pushes the boundaries of bluegrass music, fusing elements of blues, swing and roots-rock into their sound. By the end of the night, when asked if the students now enjoyed bluegrass, they were met with a resounding “YES!” from the students in the high school auditorium. The students asked what kind of music the band members liked, and they responded that they enjoyed much of the same music students in the audience did, such as K-Pop, Lil Nas X and Olivia Rodrigo.
In addition to students, teachers and faculty, Tasha Weinstein and Joe Williams attended as members of the Opening Nights in Class Education Outreach Committee. This committee is made up of educators and leaders in the community who use their knowledge to ensure the delivery of quality education programs provided through Opening Nights at FSU. Continuous community support makes opportunities like this possible for the Tallahassee community. As the show ended, Capistran gave closing remarks to the students, wishing them “an amazing, fruitful life”. Damn Tall Buildings’ performance not only introduced students to the vibrant world of bluegrass but also highlighted the power of music in bringing communities together.
