NESPA Winner: Feature story, 2023

The Lancer Spirit, Londonderry High School, Londonderry, NH

From the guitarist having to travel 20 hours straight from Hawaii to make it back in time, to the drummer having a concussion so severe that he couldn’t remember his own name for an hour–nothing would stop the five members of the band Second to Last Minute from performing at Portsmouth’s Press Room and accomplishing their long-time goal: performing their music together as best friends. Opening for a professionally recorded band was a tremendous milestone for this group of high school student musicians, two of whom are from LHS.

“It was a really big deal to play for such a well established band,” drummer Elliot Lempke said.

Student-formed rock band Second to Last Minute opened up for the professional recording bands Catbite and El Grande on August 21 at the live music venue and restaurant, The Press Room in Portsmouth, N.H. The band has been together in their current form since June of 2021, after coming together to play a gig at the Auburn Pitts.

Read the full story here.