Teen band to battle in competition

YOUNG ROCKERS—Members of Left on Bromely, from left, Preston Walker, Jackson Bell, Andrew Cohen, Shay Seguin and Kevin Kalbfeld, are semifinalists in the School Jam USA teen battle of the bands competition. The band plays classic ’80s rock music and says their music is strongly influenced by Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the trade association of the international music products industry, has placed Left On Bromely of Oak Park High School in the semifinals of the School Jam USA teen battle of the bands competition.

The nationwide contest assists school music programs and encourages teen bands across the United States to demonstrate their musical talents.

Left On Bromely will be included in the competition’s online voting, which began this week at www.schooljamusa.com. The public is invited to visit the site and vote for their favorite band.

The top two bands in five designated regions that receive the most votes will be announced on Dec. 19 and will be invited to the live School Jam USA battle of the bands finals at the NAMM Show, Sat., Jan. 16, 2010, in Anaheim.

The contest highlights the best and most talented teens across the country while supporting the bands’ school music education programs. The winning band will receive $750 toward new musical equipment and could win a trip to perform at the School Jam Germany live finals in Frankfurt, Germany, at the MusikMesse trade fair.

The top band’s school music program also receives $5,000 toward new musical equipment purchased at their local NAMM Member retailer of choice. The competition is sponsored with the help of the National Association for Music Education, the Music Education National Conference, Music For All, the John Lennon Educational Bus, SchoolJam and InTune Monthly magazine.

Left On Bromely includes lead singer Preston Walker, lead guitarist Andrew Cohen and drummer Kevin Kalbfeld, all 16-year-olds from Oak Park.

Bromely is the name of one of the community’s streets.

The bass player is 13-year-old Shay Seguin of Thousand Oaks, and the rhythm guitarist is 15year-old Jackson Bell of Bell Canyon.

“We started playing together about two years ago, and we’ve been writing and playing our music ever since,” said Andrew.

“We all come from a very ’80s and ’80s classic rock background, and we get along very well and incorporate each other’s ideas and influences into all of our songs,” Andrew said.

The group covers bands such as Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Guns N’ Roses.

—John Loesing