NANTICOKE — For Luzerne County Community College sophomore, Brian Kelly, starting a music club at LCCC has evolved into vital social networking opportunities for him and fellow students. Kelly has succeeded in throwing events to support the club and its associated academic department.
LCCC’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place from 5 to 11 p.m. Oct. 28 on the third floor of the student center (building 14) on the school’s main campus, 1333 South Prospect St. The event features a costume contest, a “Super Smash Bros.” tournament, and ghost stories along with live musical performances by Rise, My King, Automatic 253, Mr. Softee and Toothless.
There is a $5 admission for the event, which includes a food voucher, and all ages are welcome. Proceeds from the event benefit the music club and the school’s music recording technologies department.
Kelly, a Hazleton resident and the music club president, said he started the music club during his second semester to organize open mic nights and Tunes on Tuesday events, which brought acoustic performers into the school cafe during lunch hours.
“With a community college, everyone only sees each other for classes,” Kelly said. “I feel it’s harder than it is in a residential college environment to sit and form relationships.”
Kelly said he’s met his closest friends through the music club and he knows several bands that formed by meeting at club events.
Shavertown-based hardcore metal band, Toothless, headlines the event. The band members became friends with Kelly while attending LCCC and participating in the music club.
“Brian decided to book us and he asked us if we’d headline it,” said guitarist Eric Novroski.
For Toothless, who took home Metal Act of the Year at the 2016 Steamtown Music Awards, the benefit will be its first headlining performance.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” Novroski said. “We love what we’re doing, and we’d love to see people come out and have a good time with us.”
Novroski said the band appreciates the cause, having benefited from the music club themselves.
“It brought musicians together,” Novroski said. “People come together in music club and sometimes something great happens. I met people who would get together and jam, and I improved my skills and pushed myself as a musician.”
For Kelly, who thanks LCCC activities director Mary Sullivan and professor Paul Sinclair for their continued support in organizing events, the worth of the music club is two-fold.
“It benefits the music community, and it benefits the social community,” Kelly said.