Holley students form own rock band, and open for teacher who plays in Moon Hunters

Public Service Announcement, featuring 4 students and their teacher Zach Busch, perform to enthusiastic crowd at Hickory Ridge

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – A rock band with Holley students played nine songs during their first concert in the community on Friday evening at Hickory Ridge Golf & RV Resort in Holley.

The band – Public Service Announcement – includes, from left: Owen Schultz on guitar, Layla Jones on bass, Gabe Lindsay on vocals, Zach Busch (guest guitar player who usually is on drums for PSA) and Aidan Kelley on guitar. Tristan Sanders, drummer for the Moon Hunters, joined PSA for their closing song, “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” by AC/DC.

Gabe Lindsay sings “Big Shot” by Billy Joel. He is joined by his Holley music teacher Zach Busch, also guitarist for the Moon Hunters; Dave Blumrick, bass player for the Moon Hunters; and Aidan Kelley, guitar player for PSA.

Owen Schultz, left, and Layla Jones perform with PSA.

The band members are all students in the school band led by Zach Busch. Schultz will be a senior, Jones will be a junior, and Aidan Kelley is an incoming sophomore. Gabe Linsday, the lead singer, graduated a week ago.

They have been playing together for about a year, doing school events. Friday was a chance to open for the Moon Hunters. Busch has played with that band as a founding member for about a decade.

Schultz traces the formation to PSA to when he performed as a character, Ricky Hawkston, in the school’s music showcase in June 2022. “Hawkston” was picked  for Holley’s mascot, the Hawks. Schultz expanded the band to “Ricky and the Shenanigans” who changed their name to Public Service Announcement.

Busch taught the students rock and roll theory, and stayed after school to help them learn some classic rock songs. Busch ended up joining the band as the drummer.

He told the crowd at Hickory Ridge that he feels like he is living out his favorite movie, “School of Rock,” where actor Jack Black teaches students to write rock songs and perform in a high-octane band.

Schultz said he is grateful Busch helped the band mesh together and took the students seriously as musicians who wanted to learn rock and roll.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Schultz said about being in the band with his friends and their music teacher.

The students are all in the marching band led by Busch, and he would often stay after marching band practice to help them with their rock songs.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without him,” Schultz said.

More than 100 people attended the opening concert by PSA at Hickory Ridge.