GET THE PARTY STARTED TEEN BANDS FIND FEW STAGES TO PLAY.Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - In Santa Clarita, there are 11 public softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' fields, eight soccer/football fields, eight swimming pools, nine outdoor basketball courts and countless acres of open parkland for sports practice and activities. But it's not all about sports. More than 17,000 teens reside in Santa Clarita, and only two public coffeehouses and one bar offer limited space for teen bands to play. For the estimated 18 to 20 bands that call this area home, opportunities to improve their music game are slim. Recent performances by groups Weedeeter, Pale New Dawn and ILH ILH Integration Level Hierarchy ILH I Love Her/Him ILH Interior Lighting have drawn crowds of more than 300 for an hour-long concert. Restrictions on curfew and building occupancy don't offer many alternatives for music fans. During a June 7 charity concert at Command Audio in Canyon Country, organizer Rick Alschulter had an enlightening conversation with Mayor Cameron Smyth Cameron Smyth is a Republican who has represented Califoria's 38th Assembly district since December of 2006. He succeeded Keith Richman who was term limited. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Assemblyman Smyth served on the Santa Clarita City Council, where he . ``The mayor made an interesting comment when he was here,'' Alschulter said. ``He looked around and said, 'I just realized it's not just sports in this town.' I told him we have all kinds of young bands ready to do concerts. We just need the place to do it.'' Alschulter is looking forward to opening a performance space where many of the bands already rehearsing at his facility can play. Working on the proposed teen club in Canyon Country, he says he gets calls every day from touring bands looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a place to play, but before he books space for them, he'd rather help the home-grown crop of musicians prepare for ``the next jump'' into the real world. ``There are so many groups that are really good, I believe the music scene in the city will explode,'' he continued. ``You're looking at the new Seattle.'' Tony Ramirez, whose son Taylor, 15, plays guitar with AAO AAO American Association of Orthodontists; American Academy of Ophthalmology; American Academy of Otolaryngology; American Academy of Osteopathy. AAO (Against All Odds), lifted equipment out of his truck Thursday night at Java Junction in Newhall in preparation for that night's gig. He comes to as many of his son's performances as he can, hauling equipment to support his son's interest. ``The whole family is somewhat musical,'' he said. ``His older brother plays guitar, and his step uncle is (Hawaiian singer) Don Ho. But I don't think they will be playing 'Tiny Bubbles' tonight.'' As an opening act, a group - average age 15 - warmed up, small groups of teens in hooded sweat shirts gathered near the short brick walls that surround the coffeehouse, watching their friends through the windows or venturing inside for a blended mocha Mocha (mō`kə), town (1990 est. pop. 2,000), S Yemen, a port on the Red Sea. It was noted for the export of the coffee to which it gave its name but declined as a trading port in the late 19th cent. with the rise of Hodeida and Aden. . Some braved the parking lot with their skateboards; others helped band members move guitars and drums for the next act to go on. Ramirez wishes the band could play closer to home more often, but Java Junction and Cobalt Cafe The Cobalt Cafe is an all ages venue in Canoga Park, California that caters to local bands that range from punk to metal to alternative. Some of the bands that got their start there include AFI, Jimmy Eat World, Less Than Jake, Incubus, Strung Out, Linkin Park (as Hybrid Theory), in Canoga Park are the only venues that consistently invite groups to play and offers a friendly under-21 atmosphere. Groups have played at the Cactus Club
The Cactus Club was a nightclub in the South of First Area (SoFA) of Downtown San Jose, California. The concept of The Cactus Club was created by Sean Galvin and Mike Trippett. in Canyon Country, but that venue only admits those under 21 with an adult chaperon chap·er·on or chap·er·one n. 1. A person, especially an older or married woman, who accompanies a young unmarried woman in public. 2. An older person who attends and supervises a social gathering for young people. . Sporadically, teen groups are offered space at Java and Jazz on Town Center Drive; management said that they sometimes take advantage of open-mike nights. Other venues, such as Q-Zar and Dance 2000, have closed. Now and then, groups will perform at high school rallies around the valley. Debbie Wong Debbie Wong is a Hong Kong born actress and model. Working primarily in Canada, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore, she has been involved in projects including dramas, sitcoms, and modelling jobs. was at Java Junction to watch her son Jared, the bass player for his band. ``You need to be involved in your children's activities to keep them in shape,'' she said. ``This is neat. It gives them things to do to keep them out of trouble.'' Parents of band members and a few interested adult friends hung toward the back of the room while the kids crowded around the bay window where the bands set up. A large number of young people anxious to be close to the singers filled the sidewalk in front of the coffeehouse, jostling each other in a primitive mosh as the music got louder. Inside, some baggy-pants fans tried moshing on a stairwell stair·well n. A vertical shaft around which a staircase has been built. stairwell Noun a vertical shaft in a building that contains a staircase Noun 1. leading up to the loft until a nearby adult stopped the action. Pink-haired Chris Khoury, a 16-year-old junior at Valencia High School Valencia High School may refer to:
Robin Wilson Robin Wilson is the name of:
``Some of the kids who watch the bands have destroyed stuff, but we tell them they can't come back if they do,'' said Wilson. ``There has been talk that we're driving away our regular customers, but I've seen good business when the bands have been here.'' Darsy Keating, manager of Java Junction, said that the coffeehouse plans to continue to host bands during summer months. ``There are a lot of high school bands that need a place to practice and have their friends see them,'' she said. ``We're going to try and keep it up and stay in good standing with the sheriffs. But when they (the kids) don't have much to do, there's got to be a place they can go and see their friends.'' Keating said that performance nights may be cut down from three groups to one or two bands to cut down on the moshing that contributed to the sheriff and fire units responding to the coffeehouse late Thursday. After getting a call about fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to in the area, units responding found 50 people gathered outside the building listening to ILH play. After determining that there were no injuries, deputies stopped the band from playing and attempted to disperse the crowd. Adults present persuaded deputies to let the music resume. Deputies warned those present about curfew violations and advised the coffeehouse staff to exercise stronger crowd control at future performances. With entertainment cut short, the parking lot soon filled with teens on cell phones calling for rides - either home or somewhere else that the music could continue to play. Their music game was clearly over. Carol Rock, (661) 257-5252 carol.rock(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 8 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Jason Jackson Jason Jackson (born May 12 1972) was a sportscaster and writer for ESPN from 1995 until 2002, best known as the host of NBA 2Night. , lead singer for Against All Odds, belts out a song at Java Junction on Lyons Avenue. The coffeehouse opens to teens bands on a regular basis. (2 -- color) Fans gather close to the front of the stage to hear the bands at Java Junction Thursday. (3 -- color) Cody Jensen, drummer for Against All Odds, gets a 360-degree audience. (4 -- colorj) Instruments from the band Skunt Droppers are brought outside after the group's performance. (5 -- 6 -- color) A young man flings himself into a mosh pit mosh pit n. An area in front of a concert stage in which audience members mosh. during a show by Against All Odds. Meanwhile, Sierra Leoni, 16, uses the tool of choice of teens - a cell phone - to update friends on the latest. (7 -- color) Young people mingle during a performance at Java Junction, keeping the social mix alive. (8 -- color) Russell Carlton talks with a couple of girls outside the Java Junction as band gear is loaded up. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer |
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