Photo by LORETTA JACKSON Chaos & Kindness television co-star Ryan Vezina, right, plays every rung on a 12-foot metal ladder at MHS, as co-star Justin Spencer smashes a downbeat on some trash cans, instruments that are played, among others constructed from recyclables, by the pair and by other musicians during their Recycled Percussion shows in Las Vegas.

Famed musicians Justin Spencer and Ryan Vezina also are stars of “Chaos & Kindness,” an Emmy-nominated television show. The men are New Hampshire natives. Spencer attended Goffstown High. Vezina went to Merrimack Valley High in Penacook.

An invite led them to share on Feb. 8 some career insights and then perform for around 1,200 students and staffers. The men freestyled smasheroos on trash cans of metal and some of plastic. Vezina also played some not-so-heavy metal on the rungs of an aluminum ladder.

The band was founded by Spencer in 1995. Drums and other percussion instruments he built from recyclables morphed into Recycled Percussion, a unique musical species that has gone viral and international.

“We’re here to inspire the next generation,” Spencer said. “We want to let people know that they have every chance to be successful.”

Photo by LORETTA JACKSON Justin Spencer, left, founder of Recycled Percussion junk rock band, and Ryan Vezina, both New Hampshire natives and stars of “Chaos & KIndness,” an Emmy-nominated TV show, recently surprised students at Merrimack High School with a visit that was a secret kept by administrators until everyone was beckoned to the school gym by the Las Vegas celebrities.

A Recycled Percussion Foundation now is a channel for massive philanthropy. The nonprofit has gifted thousands. Chaos & Kindness has visited 25 countries to raise funds for charities.

The giving continued at MHS. Plastic eggs containing money from the musicians were hidden throughout the school. Egg finders rushed back with the eggs to the main office. There, they were informed that the $500 in encased funds could be gifted by them to any charity of their choice.

The men in the gym said that a decade of Recycled Percussion road shows preceded a cover story in USA Today. The band’s debut in 2009 as a contender on “America’s Got Talent” snagged a third-place win among more than a hundred opponents.

Now, Las Vegas is home to Spencer and Vezina and other band members. Their stage is the Saxe Theater at Planet Hollywood.

The men thanked followers at MHS and others online (recycledpercussionband.com) for supporting them at more than 4,000 worldwide shows, plus around 400 corporate shows in 15 countries.

Photo by LORETTA JACKSON Teachers and staffers responded to an invitation from Recycled Percussion musicians Justin Spencer and Ryan Vezina, stars of Chaos & Kindness television show, who upon completing a surprise performance at MHS, called the educators to come forth for thankful recognition, a kudo followed by Spencer’s launch of an impromptu dance contest that gave each honoree a quick chance to bust some moves.

They share their good fortune. Chaos & Kindness television shows and other outreaches have connected the stars to sick children, the elderly and those grappling with mental health issues.

“We hope to inspire people to do what they love,” Vezina said. “And, to stop them from doing things that stop them from becoming what they love.”

The musicians, who early on at the school cautioned that vaping “makes your mouth smell bad,” wrapped up their visit by asking dozens of teachers and associates to come forth for recognition. That’s when Spencer thanked them. And shocked them by launching an impromptu dance contest. Each took a 10-second turn.

Some graceful moves from Sharon Putney, school principal, contrasted nicely with those of a man who got down on the floor did an undulating “worm.” All of the dancers were boisterously cheered.

John Hilliard, a sophomore, is a Recycled Percussion fan. His attempt to buy tickets to a recent concert were doused by a sell-out. The school show was splendid compensation.

Photo by LORETTA JACKSON A giveaway totalling $500 in charity-bound funds that were donated by Chaos & Kindness and hidden in plastic eggs in the MHS gym and elsewhere, was retrieved by students including these MHS members, from left, Christopher Bailey, a senior; Zach Twardosky, a junior; Jordan Morgan, a freshman; and Anthony Maglio, a sophomore, along with Hallie Neve, seated, a junior.

“This was very innovative, Hilliard said. “It was also very inspiring to know that anyone can use anything to make music.”

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