Severna Park Band Perfunctory To Perform In AACPS Showcase

For the last two years, School Sounds, a student-led communication channel of Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), has created and shared videos of county high school student band performances. According to their YouTube description, “School Sounds is a traveling music showcase that highlights the talent of AACPS students in intimate, live performances. … The performances are filmed at various schools throughout the year, creating a rotating stage where students can perform in diverse environments, offering viewers a unique snapshot of AACPS’ vibrant student music scene.”

Performances of 10 bands were made available on multiple social media platforms. Students countywide had the opportunity to view the performances, and from March 23–26, vote on their favorites. The three bands with the most votes earned the opportunity to perform on stage for the School Sounds LIVE! concert at the Chesapeake Arts Center on May 22 at 6:00pm.

The top three bands as voted by their peers are:

• Perfunctory – Severna Park High School
• Here Lies – Crofton High School
• Ruby Tombstone – Chesapeake High School

Perfunctory comprises four Severna Park High School juniors: Matthew Stimpson (lead singer and rhythm guitar), Jonny Reneau (guitar), Sammy Kramer (drums) and Jacob Lovejoy (bass guitar). The young musicians formed their band in 2024 with a classic pop-punk sound (examples are Green Day, blink-182 and Fall Out Boy from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s respectively). More recently, the genre is heavy on guitars and fuses punk rock with upbeat catchy pop music, though it has been around for decades.

Kramer said the group’s music is a chance to “bring back the original, classic sounds of the genre from the late ‘60s and ‘70s with music from, among others, Stevie Wonder and The Meters,” a group formed in 1965 in New Orleans. “If you haven’t heard of pop funk, we’d love for you to come to the (School Sounds LIVE!) concert and get to know our music.”

Stimpson added that while Perfunctory covers songs from bands that inspire them, they also write their own original music. They practice at Bach to Rock in Severna Park and get guidance from George Evans, a professional musician and director of Bach to Rock who helps the band secure gigs at local venues, and from Max Smith, an audio engineer who helps the group with band coaching and the technical aspects of mixing and creating music.

“Perfunctory is an energetic band made up of intelligent rock-and-rollers,” Evans said. “Matthew is a really good frontman who engages with the audience, and Sammy is really fun to watch. Their delivery when playing live is really very good.”

“School Sounds LIVE! is a great way to share the music of many of the student bands in our area,” Matthew said. “We are grateful to be voted into the top three and be able to play the concert, but we don’t feel like it’s a competition. (Bands) are all different, and there are some really talented student bands out there.”

To learn more about Perfunctory, including their upcoming appearance schedule, follow them on Instagram at @official_perfunctory.

To learn more about AACPS’ Student Voice, find them on Instagram at @aacps_studentvoice or find AACPS on YouTube and search “School Sounds” for related videos.

Tickets for the May 22 concert are free but must be reserved through Eventbrite by searching “AACPS Student Voice.” The Chesapeake Arts Center is located at 194 Hammonds Lane in Brooklyn Park.