Interview with Assistant Principal Amy Skeens-Benton

1)       How did the band form?

It actually formed a long, long time ago. Dr. Duke, who was the principal at the time, used to play in bands and play the keyboard, and they asked if he would get some faculty members together to play for Houndstock, and that’s how it all started.

2)      How did the band decide on its name?

It’s actually a joke. It’s a legal term meaning “10 days pending expulsion.” When students are expelled, they are automatically suspended for 10 days, so we say “10 days pending expulsion.” Rather than being called Expulsion, we’re called 10 Days Pending.

3)      What kinds of music will the band perform at Houndstock?

We take songs that all of us like and mostly from when we were younger. We do a lot of 80s. But we have some 90s. We try to pull from each decade. We have Joan Jett and the Blackhearts from the 80s and Counting Crows. We also have “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” from the 2000s. We are also trying to do “Bust A Move.”  That would be hysterical. We try to find songs that are popular now so kids can relate a bit.

4)      What sets you apart from other bands?

We’re old.

5)      What is the band’s most memorable experience together?

I don’t know. We’ve had so many. I don’t know. I really don’t.

6)      What is the band looking forward to the most about Houndstock?

Hoping that it will be outside because it’s so different and so much more fun when it’s outside. It’s still great in the fieldhouse, but when it’s outside, it’s just so much more fun.

7)      What other venues has the band performed at in the past?

We’ve been hired to play at a couple weddings and parties. We’ve played at local establishments. But we’re busy with our own lives since it’s not our jobs like other bands, so it’s hard to get us all on schedule. But we’re actually playing at Relay for Life on June 5.

8)      What are the future plans for the band?

All of us are around the same age, and all of our kids are growing up and getting more involved, so it’s getting really difficult for us all to get our schedules aligned because our lives are so busy, and it’s not our jobs. We work at Carmel High School. So it is hard, but we’ll try to keep it up.