By William Andrews

“Rock me mama like a wagon wheel…”

Owen Herring (‘25) smiled as he sang the chorus to the popular song “Wagon Wheel,” originally recorded by Old Crow Medicine Show. The Senior boys erupted into clapping and joined in, singing the words. Herring’s initial anxiety went away, and he felt himself trapped in the rhythm of the song. It was the band’s first performance, and nobody really knew how they would perform together. The show continued with “Santeria,” “Californication,” “Viva La Vida,” “Have You Ever Seen The Rain,” and “Can’t Stop.” The performance was a success and started off a night of camaraderie and exuberance. 

Valley Forge performing at Feast of Juul in November.

The band started from unusual circumstances. Every year, the Senior boys gather at Feast of Juul on the night before Brunch, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break. During an evening nicknamed just “Feast,” the boys come together for food, games, roasts of teachers and coaches, and an exciting night with the faculty. The evening usually commences with a performance from a student band, and this is exactly how Valley Forge started. Lead singer Herring (‘25) and guitarist Mac Montague (‘25) had performed together over the summer at a FOCUS church camp. Recognizing the need for a band at Feast, they invited fellow musicians Shaan Agarwal (‘25), Soham Saxena (‘25), and Joshua Parker (‘25) to join them. 

Each member appreciates different aspects of the band. Agarwal said, “having grown up loving music of all sorts, being a part of a band with a few close friends put in perspective the difficulties of performing live in front of an audience.” Agarwal enjoyed being able to perform some of his favorite songs, and the Feast gig gave him a different appreciation for the music he grew up with. He said, “being able to play songs I have the utmost respect for, with a couple buddies, enhanced my experience as a musician and deepened my love for music.” Similar to Agarwal, Saxena emphasized the same relationship with the other musicians. He said, “it gave me a good opportunity to play more music and chill with my friends.” Herring did not grow up with much singing experience, with his time at FOCUS being his only real performance, but said that he has always liked to sing for pleasure. 

Parker values playing in the band because of his connection to music from such a young age. He grew up playing different instruments at his family’s church, Faith Family Worship Center. For the band, he excels at playing the drums. In addition to his drumming skills, he is also very adept at playing the piano, which he played for his Senior Speech, accompanied by his brother Angelo (‘22) on drums. Parker enjoys making the same connections through music with his friends as he has done with his family. He said, “the energy between the band members made the whole experience.” Each member completed their role to the best of their ability, whether it was learning somebody else’s part or doing extra practice in their free time. 

Preparing for their first performance, the band practiced every weekend they could before Feast. By rotating between members’ houses and the Hershey Center band room, the band refined their timing, rhythm, and overall performance of each song. As Feast approached, Herring said, “of course I was nervous. Nerves are natural.” The guitarists started by learning the basic chords and melody to each song. Saxena would individually learn the parts for the bass, as well as a special performance on the violin for “Wagon Wheel.” Saxena has been playing the violin since he was three and said, “it was important for me to showcase something that has been so valuable to me for so long.” Being a part of the band allowed him to play other genres than those he usually plays with the Upper School Orchestra. 

Senior boys gathered around Valley Forge. 

As Parker learned the drum parts and Herring memorized the lyrics, the band started to bring everything together. At first, some of the songs sounded better than others. Some parts of songs had to be cut due to the difficulty of chords, but the majority of the song still sounded the same. But with more practice, the band could feel their own success developing. When Feast arrived, they felt relaxed and ready to show off their talent. After Feast, Mace Funkhouser (‘25) said, “it was amazing how good they sounded with such little practice. I’m looking forward to hearing them perform again soon.” 

Last year, the band Twisted Vipers performed at Feast. Twisted Vipers did not have a significant influence on Valley Forge, as Herring said, “we have two different styles.” Most of the music that Valley Forge has performed have been older songs, with a few newer pop songs as well. 

None of the members are entirely sure how they got the band’s name. Montague said, “someone came up with it early on, and it just kind of stuck.” The members have talked about possibly changing the name to something else. Montague and Herring’s original summer camp band had been known as “The Diddies,” but after allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs, the band agreed to settle on a new name. 

The band has plans to perform at upcoming Senior Speeches and are looking for other opportunities to showcase their talents. They are also thinking about adding a member who can play the piano. Valley Forge has been a success throughout their early days and are looking forward to more performances in the future.  

Photos courtesy of Collegiate School.