HONESDALE, PA — Musicians and music-lovers gathered at The Cooperage on June 13 to honor and celebrate the memory of a recently deceased friend and fellow performer, Anthony McDevitt. The open mic was an opportunity for community members to perform songs in remembrance of McDevitt and to raise money for his family.

McDevitt, 19, was an avid singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, and a fixture at local open mics for years. He died tragically in a car accident on May 29, just days before his 20th birthday.

The tribute was a night of folk songs and bluegrass, both of which were McDevitt’s forte. “I think Anthony would have just loved this. He would have gone crazy for it,” said Tony Maddi, a local musician who performed “Rock and Roll Heaven” by The Righteous Brothers and “Something You Get Through” by Willie Nelson.

There was also apparently some serendipity involved with this memorial, by chance falling on the Feast of Saint Anthony, McDevitt’s namesake.

Nearly every participant shared a favorite anecdote about McDevitt. Most stories reflected his generosity as a friend, prowess as a musician, or unique presence as a performer. Throughout his musical career, McDevitt became known for his humility and perfectionism on stage, occasionally stopping himself mid-song to apologize for the slightest lyrical mistake and starting over. At other times he would simply ask the audience questions that all musicians secretly wish to ask: “Am I doing an OK job up here? Do you all like this?”

The event was hosted in part by Charles Pykus, 20, a close friend of McDevitt. Music was the foundation of their friendship, performing and songwriting together since high school. “He was more into the singer-songwriter thing, and I was more instrumental, so we built off each other,” Pykus said. On electric guitar, Pykus performed instrumental versions of two poignant Beatles songs, “In My Life,” and “Let It Be.”

McDevitt and Pykus formed their musical bond in Honesdale High School’s “Keep on Rockin’ Club.” Patrick Fiore, the club’s adivsor, a teacher and singer-songwriter himselfm, dedicated an original piece titled “Love, Love, Love” to McDevitt, mentioning what a pleasure it was to watch him “evolve as a musician.”

Sarah Thompson, mandolin and banjo player, backed by Ronald Huber on acoustic guitar and Kenny Huber on upright bass, performed three bluegrass tunes, including the classic, “Rawhide.” Thompson told the audience before their performance, “Anthony loved hard-driving bluegrass.”

The highly-attended event showed just how much of an impact McDevitt’s kindness and talents made on his community. Several of the performers on Wednesday told the audience that it was thanks to McDevitt’s encouragement and prodding that they ever got on stage in the first place.

McDevitt’s love for music ran deep, and it seems to have touched almost everybody it came into contact with. In life, some of McDevitt’s defining traits included a warm, un-waning smile and a contagious, uplifting spirit. On June 13, that same warm smile could be found on each performer as they reminisced about their friend, and that same uplifting spirit could be felt with every word sung and every note plucked.