Ferris’ Stoics Throw Their Hearts Into Music

At Ferris High School, some of the stars of halftime wear plaid suits and red bow ties.

They might even be future rock stars - as long as they keep up their grades.

“My mom told me if I didn’t get good grades, I’d have to quit The Stoics,” said 18-year-old guitarist Ben Clark, a senior and the Associated Student Body president at Ferris. The three other members of the band nodded in agreement.

Since the beginning of the school year, The Stoics have been instrumental, so to speak, in increasing the turnout at some Ferris sporting events, in raising money for the Associated Student fund and in boosting school spirit.

Last spring, during Clark’s campaign for student president, he and vice presidential candidate Ned Fadeley, 16, the group’s singer, teamed up to attract voters with their music.

After winning their elections, they added drummer Jason Farley and bassist Jason Yen to form the band.

The group named itself after the impassive school of philosphy founded in ancient Greece, but they say personally they are anything but stoic. “The name just looks cool,” said Clark, referring to the band’s black-and-white logo.

“They’ve got a real up-tempo, all out style,” said Paul Domitor, watching the group play halftime at his daughter’s soccer game. The Stoics Pee-Wee Herman look, their flesh-colored Stoic-mobile, a 1964 Dodge Dart, and their original songs that chronicle teenage angst have earned them a following among students.

Their stage presence is enhanced by Christmas lights, a lighted outdoor Santa Claus, and by placing their amplifiers atop two skateboards.

“I think they’re funny,” said Sheila Hollaway, 16, “but it’s kind of hard to hear what they say.”

(Clark is the son of the Spokesman-Review columnist Doug Clark.)

, DataTimes