Opal the Band’s success story is so serendipitious it sounds like a movie. The classic rock group had been rehearsing for months with the ultimate goal of performing at The Bluebird, a bar and music venue in downtown Bloomington. The bar has played host to stars like Zach Bryan and is a staple of Bloomington’s music scene.

Band leader Ahnay Hering knew he wanted in. After performing at a gig with Bluebird regulars Welcome to the Neighborhood, Hering asked for advice. They told him his best shot at landing a spot was to talk to the owner.

One day, Hering was driving past Bluebird when he saw a man inside.

“I was like ‘Hopefully that’s him,’ and I stopped and ran inside and it ended up being the owner and he offered us to play the next night,” Hering said.

November 22 the band played their first gig at The Bluebird.

“And it’s just kind of been history ever since,” Hering said.

Now, the band plays at Bluebird about once a week, opening for touring bands and performing as the headliner.

Not that it was all smooth sailing. The late nights can take their toll– these are students after all– and performing on such a public stage regularly can be nerve-wracking.

Bassist Frances Stemme recalled their very first gig at Bluebird.

“I was so nervous. I was standing in the corner and I remember our old drummer Phillip came up to me and he was like, ‘Hey are you okay.'” she said. “And I just nodded. ‘Are you nervous?’ I just nodded.”

Phillip gave her a pep talk and they took to the stage.

That’s an example of what keeps band members coming back for more.

They love the music, of course, but they also treasure the comradery between band mates.

At a recent rehearsal they joked around with each other, recalling mishaps at previous gigs and lingering after the rehearsal was over to chat.

“We’re just six good friends who are pretty okay at their instruments,” Hering said.

When asked, he launched into a description of each band member, offering glowing reviews of each.

Junior Claire Carpenter is the band’s lead singer and she’s a force to be reckoned with. Hering said she is a born performer.

“There’s no one like her in town,” he said.

Sarah Scherrer is the newest member of the group, taking over for a member who graduated last year. Hering praised her ability to pick up the music that the rest of the group has been playing for months.

Stemme plays bass and sings backup vocals, Kenneth Latanna and Hering are the groups’s guitarists and Emmett James rounds out the group on the keys.

What the members of Opal have found is something many college bands hope for– a group of friends, fans and a local venue that invites them back week after week. The band isn’t sure what the future holds– most of them are graduating this year– but no matter what, they’re sure to stay in touch.

“We’re not just a band, we’re a group of good friends,” Stemme said. “We’re the most funny, hodgepodge group from so many different backgrounds and we just love playing music together.”