When Mark Hill and Kelly Countermine first met 12 years ago, the pair had no idea what their friendship would turn into. What started as encouragement from a friend of Countermine’s to check out the band Biscuit Jam has now become the duo performing around State College and Centre County under the same name.

Despite not being an original member of the band, Hill was a part of it “with all dudes” for some time before Countermine began singing with the band. Eventually, Hill’s supporting cast departed the band for a multitude of reasons, leaving the two as the only consistent members.

“She kind of found me, and eventually everyone in this band moved away,” Hill said. “We’ve been working together totally for about 12 years, but in the end, it just turned out to be her and I, and we’ve been performing as a duo for roughly 10 years.”

Hill, a former professor of sociology at Penn State, noted that a new member joining a music group doesn’t always work out the way they hoped it will, but that certainly wasn’t the case when Countermine joined Biscuit Jam.

Hill and the rest of the members quickly noticed not only her singing prowess but her overall outlook on life.

“We immediately saw her talent and her very positive energy. She’s just got a very uplifting spirit and a big personality,” Hill said.

That positive energy is what Hill believes led to Biscuit Jam its selection for its most recent, and biggest, performance as a duo, which Hill explained as a “once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

On February 3, Hill and Countermine took center court at the Bryce Jordan Center alongside hundreds of breast cancer survivors at halftime of Penn State women’s basketball’s annual “Pink Zone” game. The two performed “Good Riddance” by Green Day and “Drift Away” by Uncle Kracker.

Hill mentioned he wasn’t exactly sure how Biscuit Jam was selected, but he was glad it did. However, playing in an arena that seats over 15,000 people brought challenges for the musical duo.

“I’m glad we got there early and were able to run through it because there was a lot of echo,” Hill said. “We could hear the bouncing back a few seconds later more than we could hear each other, so that was an interesting experience.”

Despite challenging acoustics, Hill called the performance “perfect for [the band],” as the duo uplifts positivity and fun. He also brought up that Countermine beat cancer over 20 years ago, and his mother and sister are survivors, making them the perfect band to be featured in a night like the Pink Zone game.

“It was very moving, and we’re blessed to be involved in such a thing because that’s really what we’re all about,” Hill said. “We don’t play a lot of songs in minor keys. We’re really there to try to uplift. We’re trying to be fun and help give people a reason to get out.”

To Biscuit Jam, serving as a local music duo is about far more than performing, and the community is what drives it. Countermine has been playing at nursing homes for years, and Hill recently joined her, and the two frequently connect with elderly supporters for dinner.

“The right word for that sort of spirit is fellowship, and we’re blessed to have that here in State College,” Hill said.

To listen to Biscuit Jam live, catch the duo at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, at Cafe 210 West, Happy Valley Vineyard and Winery on typically the second and fourth Fridays of each month, and the first Sunday of each month at 814 Cider Works.