From Dorm Room Jam Sessions to the America250 WV Stage

What started as casual music sessions in a University of Charleston residence hall has grown into one of the Capital City's favorite local acts.

Around campus, Kelton Boblits and Thiago "James" Romano are known as a bit of rock stars. Their band, Two Roommates, has become a local favorite not just at UC but around Charleston, performing shows and gigs throughout the year. But before the band, the two were, quite literally, two roommates.

"Believe it or not, we were roommates for a couple of years before we really started making music together," Boblits said. "It wasn't until the summer of 2024 that boredom pushed us to jam together, and from there everything happened organically. We went from playing in our dorm to open mic nights, and suddenly people were encouraging us to perform around Charleston."

Those impromptu sessions, Boblits on keyboard and Romano on guitar, grew into something neither expected, and this summer the duo reached the biggest milestone of its young career, performing as part of West Virginia's America250 celebration, a concert series that also featured legendary acts including Alabama and the Marshall Tucker Band.

The performance marked more than another stop on the calendar. It was the culmination of years of hard work, community support, and a journey that began while the pair were undergraduate students at UC.

"Our first performances weren't in concert venues. They were at parties and local coffee shops," Romano said. "Every opportunity helped us grow a little more."

The duo cut their teeth at UC talent competitions before their first real performance came during an open mic night at Folklore Music Exchange in downtown Charleston.

From there, they became regulars at venues across the city, including Taylor Books, The ROQ, and Fife Street Brewing. With every show, the crowds grew, driven in large part by fellow UC students, including the men's volleyball team, who turned up night after night.

"Charleston has been incredibly supportive," Romano said. "We would get invited back to venues because the UC community would show up, fill the venues, and create an amazing atmosphere. It helped us build a following."

Those packed rooms at Fife Street and Taylor Books did more than build a following. They earned the band a spot on one of the biggest stages West Virginia had to offer.

"After America250, it felt like we were real rockstars," Romano said. "It shows us that people in the community believed in what we are doing."

The event also carried personal significance. Boblits and fellow University of Charleston alumnus Connor McCown, who joined the group on drums for the performance, proudly represented their home state during one of West Virginia's signature America250 celebrations.

For Romano, a native of Brazil who came to UC as a Presidential Scholar, the night meant celebrating the state that has become his second home.

Today, both musicians are pursuing MBAs at the University of Charleston while serving as graduate assistants. Boblits, who earned undergraduate degrees in Business Management and Political Science, works in the Office of Advancement. Romano, who earned his bachelor's degree in Business Management, serves in the Office of Admissions.

Finding time to make music can be a challenge, with both men balancing graduate school, work, and rehearsals. Most of their practices happen at night after the day's responsibilities have been taken care of.

"What makes Two Roommates special is that it's fun," Boblits explained. "We both have different goals and responsibilities, but whenever we play together, the energy is different. The experience feels bigger than either of us individually. That's what keeps us going."

"We don't know where life will take us after graduation," Romano added. "But we'll always look back on these years as something really special. Every performance still reminds us why we started in the first place."