The clock was ticking for members of Hourglass Friday night as they eagerly waited to make their debut at The Union Bar, located at 18 W. Union St.
The Union is home to several music fanatics and offers opportunities for those looking to their debut. Hourglass formed in 2024 after Kate Tocke, Carl Mccutcheon, Anna Scott and Jake Rickman decided to transform their already established friendship into a jam session, producing alternative, indie rock and folk music.
Each member shares a background in and passion for music, with years spent playing piano, learning from grandparents, singing competitively and participating in musical theater.
“I played piano and took lessons for about 12 years (and) it is still a very big part and instrument in my life,” Mccutcheon, a junior studying journalism and Hourglass’s drummer, said. “A lot of my music came from my dad, we would always travel (and) listen to music together … I bought a Facebook marketplace drum set about a year ago and I have been teaching myself.”
Similarly to Mccutcheon, Tocke, a junior studying journalism, has been teaching herself how to play the bass for three years.
“I just listened to a lot of music and originally started writing music … there are definitely certain bands and artists who influenced me, but that was my starting point,” Tocke said.
Hourglass was one of two original band name ideas, but after Rickman proposed the name Huh, Tocke said she and the others claimed Hourglass with pride and excitement.
The band has yet to perform publicly in Athens, as the band’s first live shows were at Cafe Bourbon Street in Columbus and at Tocke’s house. As the sun set on Union Street and attendees made their way into the dim yet inviting bar, Hourglass was determined to provide a thrilling and electric debut.
It was not until after Zappers and Merchant Market rocked the house that Hourglass took the stage, drowned out by the cheers of friends and other audience members.
“Luckily nerves kind of settled, one way or another,” Rickman, a graduate student studying social work and the band’s guitarist, said. “We just had fun … it was a lot of pressure, but I had fun.”
After playing some of their originals, including “Penny,” “Head Full of Flowers” and “Bones,” Hourglass saw the energy of the crowd and only grew more confident on stage.
“I have performed a lot and I feel like it is very important to just be yourself (and) kind of listen to music, listen to the audience,” Scott, a junior studying music production and recording industry, said. “I also believe fan engagement is really important, so I tried to pick out certain people in the audience who I felt were giving good energy.”
Scott sings and plays the tambourine, contributing to Hourglass’s upbeat and catchy sound and said as the performance continued, the band’s energetic stage presence was contagious, catching the eyes of both new and old listeners.
Erin Baumann, a junior studying ceramics, is friends with Hourglass members and said it was hard to contain excitement before the show.
“Their energy together was just so incredible and it is just so awesome to see people that I know so well just so happy to do something they are so talented at,” Baumann said.
Baumann said the band later revealed the lyrics to one of their new songs, “Bones,” was improvised during the performance; however, attendees never would have guessed.
“I have seen a lot of people perform music here throughout the years and you just know a good band when a good band is playing,” Baumann said. “They know what they are doing (and) I feel like they all just have been so talented in their own ways.”
Although Hourglass’s music is not yet available for streaming, Athens’ residents and Bobcats are invited to attend their upcoming show on April 3 at The Union.
“I have been going to The Union since my freshman year and I never would have ever imagined myself to be in a band … it was just a sweet moment,” Tocke said.
