Published: April 03, 2009 10:09 am      

MUSIC: High school bands rock NU

By Phil Dzikiy



Rock ‘n’ roll has always been a young person’s game. And bands don’t get much younger than the groups coming to Niagara University on Friday night.

NU’s High School Rock Band Showcase returns for the fourth year Friday. The show, featuring five bands from area high schools, kicks off at 8 p.m. Each band will perform a 20-minute set at the showcase.

Night & Day received information about each of the high school bands involved in this year’s showcase — some bands responded to questions through e-mail, others passed along information to NU. Here’s a closer look at the sounds they’ll be bringing to the stage.



The Brass Monkeez

Band members: Steve Fleck, 13, lead guitar, lead vocals, harmonica, keyboard; Ryan Dallavia, 15, guitar, vocals and one-finger piano; Evan Waterstrat, 14, electric bass, backup vocals, violin; Alex Schmitt, 13, drums, backup vocals, percussion.

High school: Lewiston-Porter.

How the group got its band name: “We have a friend who used to call us, and only us, a ‘Brass Monkey’ if we made a mistake or messed something up, and it was before we even formed the band. But once we formed (the band), we remembered that, thought it was a cool name and decided to spell it ‘The Brass Monkeez’ so that the guitar could weave through the ‘Z’ in our logo.” — Fleck

How long the band has been together: About seven months.

Description of band’s sound: “We sound like a mix of the Beatles and the Who.”

Biggest influences:

“By far” the Beatles; also John Lennon, The Who, Bruce Springsteen and Led Zeppelin.

Other comments: “Our shows have lots of energy, and we plan on going all the way. Our goal is to make the younger generation realize the real value of classic rock and the music of the ’60s and ’70s.”



Midnight Lightning

Band members: Chris Weinholtz, 17, guitar and vocals; Dylan Maciejewski, 18, drums; Zen Maciejewski, 16, bass.

High school: Niagara-Wheatfield (Weinholtz); Maryvale (the Maciejewskis)

How the group got its band name: “The band name came from combining a couple of old blues song titles.”

How long the band has been together: “The three members met at the Blues Society of WNY’s AMJAM at the Lafayette Tap Room last fall.”

Description of band’s sound: Blues-rock.

Biggest influences: Mike Bloomfield, Peter Green, Cream, Freddie King.

Other comments: Midnight Lightning bills itself as

rock ...

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“Buffalo-Niagara’s youngest blues band.”



Ever Since Forever

Band members: Erin Kletke, 16, vocals; Brian Naus, 15, guitar and vocals; Jason Garfinkel, 14, bass; Ryan Akenbauer, 16, drums; Brandon Washburn, 15, synth and keyboard.

High school: Lewiston-Porter.

How the group got its band name: “It was a previous song name that we had changed before we changed the name.”

How long the band has been together: Since December 2006.

Description of band’s sound: The band compares its sound to other bands such as Paramore, VersaEmerge and The Morning Of.

Biggest influences: Local bands like Mandy K, Crush, The Everlasting, Letterset and This Is An Empire.

Other comments: The band just finished recording its new EP, “There’s A You In Us.” The group plans on holding a CD release show soon.



RePerfection

Band members: Ryan Morreale, lead vocals; Pat Tierney, lead guitar and vocals; Jon Zeames, bass; Nick Manfredi, guitar and keyboard; TJ Merries, drums.

High school: Lewiston-Porter.

Favorite bands: Rise Against, Disturbed, Metallica, Goo Goo Dolls, Foo Fighters.



Unspoken Melody

Band members: Joshua Stemper, vocals and guitar; Dante Iozzo, guitar; Tyler Midgley, drums; Adam Sidledci, bass.

High school: Lewiston-Porter.

Favorite bands: Blink-182, Metallica, Killswitch Engage, Judas Priest, A Day To Remember, Chiodos, Coheed and Cambria.



IF YOU GO

WHAT: Niagara University’s High School Rock Band Showcase

WHERE: Gallagher Center at NU

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday

COST: $5, includes pizza and beverage