“Check, check, check…”

Byron Mercurius adjusts the screws of the high hat on his red drum set as he tests his microphone. He turns his head to the side, “No, no, turn it down a little.”

“Check, check – that’s better,” says Mercurius.

Rhythm Culture, a local reggae/funk band, spends a couple of minutes tuning and chatting before the SAB-hosted noon-show Wednesday.

Sweat drips from Mercurius’ head as he plods away at the drums in RC’s rendition of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry.”

Beret-clad Joseph Conrad plucks away at his bass, grooving to Mercurius’ beat.

After the show, Conrad pulls his guitar over his head, bends down and lays it in a case. He looks up and says, “We did the club scene a couple a few years and we were the only reggae group that played the whole blues circuit in Portland, including Trail Zone – it was pretty fun.”

“It’s really been fun playing with one of the best drummers in Portland, Byron, who’s this monster,” says Conrad as he throws his thumb toward Mercurius.

“I’ve been playing since puberty – its got to be 20 years at least,” says Geoff George, RC’s keyboardist.

“I bought all this stuff new, so you can see how old I am.” George nods to his triple-tiered, slightly discolored keyboard rig as he collects cords from the floor.

“I love the intent of the lyrics,” says George. “I like what’s going on lyrically.”

“We’re going to keep it small and fun,” says Byron.

“I used to go here,” says Kenny Graves, referring to his 1986-1987 stint at MHCC. “I used to play in the student lounge when I was a student doing the music program. I used to come in with a little jazz trio, and we would come in here and play.”

Graves has been playing guitar since he was 16. “So, without giving you a date or anything like that, I’ve been playing for about 30 years,” he says.

James Barker, an MHCC student and custodian, said, ““They’re better than good.” He said “on a scale of one to 10, I give ‘em a nine.”

“I would encourage [students] to show up to every college event that’s coming up. I mean, they enrich your culture, your thoughts, your process,” added Barker.

“I thought they were a great band with great original songs and some good Marley tracks – they were a great band,” said Henry Ford, an MHCC student.