Young Group on the Rise Reveling in National Spotlight
Members of the Press (MOTP), a local band from the Hicksville Middle School, was recently selected as one of 48 middle/high school rock bands from around the country as semi-finalists in the SchoolJam USA Battle of the Bands and is seeking support from potential fans in Hicksville.
Susan Hall, mother of two band members and the group’s “informal manager,” said MOTP got a very early start with music and has been performing for several years.
“The band has been together for five years. They started out doing talent shows at OCR in their elementary school. I think the first time they had played together might have been third grade. It’s very cool. They love it and that’s their dream: they want to be rock stars,” said Hall.
All four kids in the band are in the Hicksville Middle School (three in eighth-grade and one in sixth-grade) and with local support, the band could move forward to compete in Anaheim, CA and then Germany. Through the National Association of Music Merchandisers’ (NAMM) “Wanna Play Music” initiative, which encourages young people to take up instruments, the contest was formed.
Hall said her children have never shied away from the stage and enjoy performing publicly.
“Both of my sons are in show business. My older son was in two Broadway shows for three years straight, and my younger one has also appeared on Broadway and is now filming the sitcom for TBS Are We There Yet? in Stamford on which he is a recurring character.
“MOTP has a pretty good following on Youtube (about 2,200 subscribers and 600 friends). They just recently won a cover contest held by My Chemical Romance where they were awarded a guitar signed by the band. Out of almost 1,000 entries all over the world, they were the winners,” said Hall.
MOTP has played many clubs and venues on Long Island, Hall noted, including the TOB Children’s Festival, Mulcahy’s, Surf’s Out on Fire Island, Social Kitchen & Bar, Dublin Pub, Vibe Lounge, Broadway Bar, Callahan’s, Hicksville Street Fair; New York City (Queens Museum of Art, Don Hill’s); and New Jersey/Westchester (Mexicali Blues Cafe, Towne Crier).
In addition to practicing and performing, the band has also participated in events for the benefit of diverse charitable causes. For their latest act, MOTP has a chance in the “Wanna Play Music” initiative to win money that will ultimately be awarded to the Hicksville Middle School’s music program.
To vote or hear the band, visit http://www.wannaplaymusic.com/schooljam-usa or http://www.you tube.com/membersofthepress.
