It’s not often you see an established pop rock band jamming out on a basketball court on borrowed guitars and bongos, but that’s what happened last Friday at Interlake High School.

Runner Runner, a pop rock band that’s appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and received moderate airplay with their single “So Obvious,” was in town for Kiss 106.1 FM’s Jingle Bash. A commitment to play at a different high school fell through, and Interlake ended up scrambling to accommodate the band.

With students continuing to work hard, it was an “opportunity to let off steam,” said Interlake principal Russell White. Seizing the opportunity, Interlake’s administration had about two days to put together a modified assembly schedule and an adapted sound system amid a logistical nightmare.

Regardless, the short set went off without a hitch. The band played three short songs, including their single “So Obvious.” They had students clapping in unison and even swaying side to side, even though the students were unfamiliar with the band, the guitarists were playing borrowed instruments, and the drummer was playing a pair of bongos borrowed from Interlake’s music department instead of a drum set.

Students screamed in approval when the band’s singer replaced lyrics about angst-tinged love with shout-outs to the city of Bellevue and to Interlake.

Normally, students rush out of assemblies as soon as possible, eager to be done with the school day. Not so this time. After the set, a horde of students met the band with cell phones cameras in hand. The band ended up taking pictures both of and with many of the students.

Kiss 106.1 FM had set up a competition between Seattle schools for a chance to host the band. The chosen school had an early dismissal the day the band hit town and couldn’t host the band. The band still wanted to play a high school gig, though, and the band ended up at Interlake after snap decisions and communication between the band, the radio station, and Interlake’s administration, said White.

By high school standards, the event was huge. On Facebook, the band’s status thanking Interlake “endlessly” for having them was met with a massive 157 likes and 64 comments by excited Interlake students and envious fans of the band from other schools.

Most students hadn’t even heard of the band, but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter. In an event unprecedented in Interlake’s recent history, the administration managed to give students a safe, exhilarating way to enjoy themselves in that peculiar way that all teens seem to share.

Derek Tsang is an intern at the Bellevue Reporter. He attends Interlake High School.