AHS Grad to Open for Dave Matthews Band This Summer

AJ Yorio and friends participate in AHS battle of the bands as past students at AHS. Photo courtesy of Corey Larrison.

By Connor Bergman| Managing Editor

May 9, 2024

Former AHS students AJ Yorio and Michael Marcagi are yet another story of Anderson alumni success. After touring and performing in festivals for the better part of the last decade, Yorio and Marcagi are receiving vast amounts of praise and fame over their recent song “Scared to Start.” Clips of the song started picking up traction almost instantly, rapidly transforming into a viral sensation on TikTok. Their journey, one full of hard work and determination, began almost 2 decades ago within the walls of AHS.

According to men’s head golf coach and English teacher Dave Lunn, Yorio and Marcagi were “goofballs” and “fun-loving kids who rarely thought into the future.” Both Yorio and Marcagi  played on the golf team during Coach Lunn’s first year. 

In addition to their athletic skills, both possessed extreme musical talent while at Anderson, although only Yorio revealed his. Throughout Yorio’s time at AHS, he participated in “Battle of the Bands every winter, and even won 3 of the 4 years,” Mr. Larrison, Yorio’s close friend and AHS science teacher said. Marcagi, however, was not a Battle of the Bands participant. 

“I tried to get Michael in my Battle of the Bands band, but he said ‘no,’ because he was too nervous,” Yorio said, even explaining that “Michael used to make fun of my band in high school, and it wasn’t until after we graduated that Michael wanted me to hear him sing.”

While the base of Yorio and Marcagi’s friendship was built at AHS, it wasn’t until after they graduated from college that they decided to form a band together. For the last 10 years, their band, more specifically Yorio and Marcagi, has been working hard for their big break, playing shows locally in OTR, as well as around the United States. Most recently, their band “Heavy Hours” has been touring Europe where they finally caught their big break when their new song, “Scared to Start” gained fame on TikTok, even going viral and “earning double platinum in Ireland,” Larrison said. 

However, they aren’t done yet, as Marcagi’s band recently signed a record deal with Warner Bros and plans on touring the US this summer. The band, which includes Yorio, will be opening for Dave Matthews Band this summer as well. 

“It's always so interesting to see where life takes people after Anderson,” Lunn said.