Most students want to learn how to rock out, and they want to do it as soon as possible. Games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero are testaments to that. But one school is turning that yearning into a reality for kids ages nine to 18 who are serious about rocking out on stage.

“Rock-n-roll is here to stay” – at least, that's what Danny and the Juniors’ sang in their top 20 hit during 1958. Now, 50 years later, it looks like they were right. Keeping ablaze the decades-old rock and roll flame, some local youngsters have wrapped their fingers around drumsticks and guitar picks at Vance Music Studios, learning the art of rock and roll to the tunes of some of the genre's greats. On Saturday, October 25, eight bands had the opportunity to take the stage and rock out to a jam-packed house at the Winchester.

“From The Romones to Green Day to originals,” Owner of Vance Music Studios, Chris Vance said, “This was the best concert we've had to date, mainly because everyone got a chance to play all of the music they prepared for Band2Gether summer concert series. It was a great way to punctuate all of their hard work and clear the way for new material.”

Little Known Fact started the evening off donning sombreros for the Spooky Fall Student Showcase, but as soon as they started playing you knew you were not going to be listening to a mariachi band. They immediately took command of the audience rocking them with their robust sound as they opened with Say it Ain’t So by Weezer, which included one of two rockin’ guitar solos featuring Clay Verga. Alberto Rodriguez kept the audience going by laying down some great bass lines and occasionally shouting out to the crowd. The music was propelled forward with Mike Young’s beat and his drumsticks were flying as he performed a drum solo during “Radar Love.” He has been playing drums since the age of four and his passion and persistence showed. Abby Boland’s stage presence accompanied with her great voice energized the crowd. She carried vocals, singing 10 songs, including two originals she created: What is Love and In The End.

A band debuted called The Blue Fish, named after a blue beta fish that was in the music studios where they had rehearsals. Band members include Riley Johns who played guitar and sang Brain Stew, Wild Thing and You Really Got Me. Vinnie Berardi played guitar while Rob Moore kept the beat hopping on the drums. The entire band was in the groove as they played Bonzo Goes to Bitburg by The Ramones. If this band was nervous it certainly didn’t show as The Blue Fish did a remarkable job performing in public this first time out.

Rock/Pop ingénue, Abby Boland, in her second performance of the evening, treated the audience to three of her original songs: Who Am I, I Say No and Her Light. She shared a strong, personal performance with an eager crowd.

Fabulous Waste of Time has wasted no time regrouping from a quartet to a trio over the past few months. The band added AC/DC as a new format and were joined on stage by Tim Lane to perform TNT, which got the crowd fired up. Nick Hinchley played lead guitar while singing everything from Seven Nation Army to Paranoid. David Flood had a fabulous drum solo during Smoke on the Water highlighting his drumming skills. Matt Kerrigan held the bass lines for the entire performance.

Nuclear Gun Rack has continued to grow into one solid band. Every band member sang at least one song during the set. Chazzz Koenigsmark’s guitar playing was tight and his vocals on Blue Orchid were worthy of an approving nod from the illustrious Jack White himself. Nuclear Gun Rack’s front-man and newest member, Jackson Jusko, played guitar and superbly sang six songs, including Give it Away, Creep, Last Dance with Mary Jane, Godzilla and more. The band’s drummer, Eric Herald impressed the crowd with his vocals on Paint it Black while knocking out some great rhythms. Jerry Koenigsmark laid down some smooth bass lines for the band in his fedora and sang both Helter Skelter and Not Fade Away by Buddy Holly. Jackson Jusko’s talents were highlighted again when he performed three Pink Floyd songs perfectly, playing acoustic guitar while singing Pigs on the Wing part 1, Brain Damage and Pigs on the Wing part 2.

Venus band members entered dressed in Greek gowns befitting the rock goddesses they have become. Erin King kept the rhythm flowing from the drums throughout their set of 10 songs, starting with I Hate Myself for Loving You. Lead guitarist, Bethany Zettler played Back in Black, Californication and Ziggy Stardust to name a few, like someone who has played much longer than her eight to nine months. Alex Mosco sang and played bass guitar, including setting a powerful bass line in Slide The Goo, Perfect Situation and many others. Abby Boland’s vocals rocked, including her sixth original song for the evening called High School Never Ends.

The evening closed with a treat -- a new band named Bleu Hypoxia. Shane Lang’s drum playing was “off the hook” for entire set. The band’s bass guitar player, Ethan Neauhaus kept the bass going strong on songs from 96 Quiet Bitter Beings to Cherub Rock. Peter Quigley played complicated pieces on lead guitar with ease. Peter also sang the entire set including three original songs he composed: Paralysis, Obliterate and Esoteric, each song had thought provoking lyrics. When I asked Peter about the process he uses for creating his music, Peter said he write the lyrics first sometimes and other times he builds off a riff on the guitar. He said it is really fun to start by building the framework of the song – “it adds another dimension” to music for him. Peter may enter a profession involving music one day, but for now he will be entering high school in ’09.

After the performance we caught up with Chris Vance, Owner of Vance Music Studios and he said “I couldn't be more proud of these kids and this recital. Seeing all their talents improve and evolve over time is priceless.”  So, “Class Dismissed”… until these new generation rock superstars take to the stage again at the next Vance Music Studios Recital. Adoring fans will then have another opportunity to see and support rock stars in the making.