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While the fourth act, Andrew Heringer (with a full-length CD of his own), plays slow acoustic guitar comparable to Jason Mraz, the members of Kearsey set up their gear on the right-hand stage. In the center, Wesley positions his three Zildjian cymbals, the hi-hat (a double set of cymbals, which can be bashed against one another by means of a foot pedal, or drummed upon), a snare drum, two toms, and the beloved, black, zhe-emblazoned bass drum. To his left, Kevin connects his turntable setup and organizes his records. In front of Kevin, Ismet adjusts the pedals and checks the connection to his black- and-white bass. Davey and Sean do the same for their guitars, and Brian vibrates his saxophone reed. Perfect - everything has to be perfect. The winners will play at UCI’s Wayzgoose Festival, a yearly binge of food and performances that thousands attend. More importantly for Kearsey, the top band also earns a gig at the Roxy - a nightclub on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Opened in 1973 at a former strip club, the Roxy has hosted Bruce Springsteen, Alice Cooper, John Lennon, Tori Amos, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and Guns N’ Roses. It is also where Incubus performed their first “Pay to Play” show that launched them towards stardom. Maybe that is why twenty-one bands auditioned for this year’s Battle of the Bands. Just days before the competition itself, judges selected six bands based on acoustic performances. Because of the acoustic constraints, only Bentley, Sean, and Davey performed. No drums, no bass, no Kevin scratching. But they made it. The judges also listened to their demo tape, a four-song compilation that featured all of the members. It was a far cry from the tape they submitted for Battle of the Bands 2006, a rough version of “Don’t Fear the Familiar” that had only one verse and a chorus. That time, Sean turned in a recording made after only three weeks together as a group. Luckily, the Battle of the Bands rejected them; it saved them some embarrassment. But now they stand ready after spending the last year preparing for this moment. Heringer finishes, and the lights dim on the left stage. Sean slides his guitar over his Guns N’ Roses shirt and takes his place at center stage, his back to the audience. He raises his arm high above his head, then plunges his hand across the strings. He strikes the first chord of “Don’t Fear.” Kevin plays what sounds like quick, metallic breaths on the turntable. Wes beats twice on the bass drum, and Sean’s hand arcs down again. At the edge of the stage, their six girlfriends take photographs and video while emitting high-pitched squeals. Behind them, five solid rows of people surround the judges’ table. The crowd has swelled to over 120 people, students sprawling along the lawn or peering from the balconies of nearby buildings. The fifty closest to the stage, many (but not all) of them friends of at least one band member, begin clapping and yelling sharp woooot!’s of support. As he plays, Sean watches the crowd fade from his sight – he can think of nothing but music. “Don’t Fear the Familiar” was a song written for Kearsey back when they were still jumping between names. Bentley started writing it as a semi-autobiographical song, singing, Now this little boy is shooting rivals when he’s bored, blowing cash on corner whores. Now it’s just too late because he doesn’t give a fuck about you or what you have to say, because he wanted to fit in; all he needed was a chance. And the thugs of Graceland Ave. were the ones to lend the helping hand. Shortly after meeting for the first time, Sean and Bentley wound up at a Red Onion restaurant. There, Bentley confessed that at thirteen he had joined one of many Asian gangs in Monterey Park. He regularly found himself in street fist fights or carrying a gun. He watched people die. But at the same time, he was also drawn to a radically different life. To fill an empty fifth period his freshman year of high school, he joined the choir and received his first real vocal training. Until then, vocal practice consisted of singing Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey songs in the car with his mother and two sisters. The school choir traveled to competitions in New York, Hawaii, and Boston, placing consistently. And then came his crowning achievement: Bentley sang in the California State High School Honor Choir, an annual choir organized by the Southern California Vocal Association, which was composed of the state's 200 best singers. He also began playing guitar and providing vocals for his first band, The Rid. Through music, he found encouragement and acceptance that he couldn’t get from behind the barrel of a gun. When one of his best friends was killed, Bentley explained to Sean, he followed his passion for music and put the gangster lifestyle behind him. “Don’t Fear the Familiar” became a call to everyone, a proclamation that nobody should be afraid, or ashamed of their character. After hearing this, Sean, already well aware of Bentley’s ability to sing, immediately wanted to ask Bentley to join the growing band. But Sean hesitated; he knew from personal experience with his Shorin Do Kempo guru that it is “different” to be in a room with someone who has ended another person’s life. He leaned in towards Bentley and asked a simple question. “Have you ever killed anyone?” “No, man,” he laughed. Bentley came to the band’s next practice. (continued on page 3) |
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