Ventura County Star
Ventura County musicians vie to be America's 'Next Great Family Band'
By Amy Bentley
February 15, 2013 at 8:03 a.m.
The search for America’s “Next Great Family Band” begins Sunday on a new reality television series featuring 15 family bands from around the United States — two of them from Ventura County.
Rock/pop groups SKICK and March 4th are each comprised of four teens ranging in age from 12 to 18. The bands and their members have played at numerous fairs, festivals and competitions in Southern California, as well as at clubs including the Whiskey a Go Go in West Hollywood.
The members of March 4th are Mitchell, Garrett and Spencer Fraye, 12-year-old triplets from Simi Valley who are seventh-graders at Valley View Middle School (and turn 13 on March 4), plus older sister Lynnzee. Lynnzee, 18, a Moorpark College student, plays piano, sings and writes music for the band. Mitchell plays drums, Garrett plays bass guitar and sings, and Spencer plays guitar and sings.
Members of SKICK, from Thousand Oaks, are siblings Ruby Visser, 16, of Santa Susana High School, on vocals and lead guitar; Trevor, 14, also a Santa Susana High student, on drums; and youngest brother Julian 12, who attends Redwood Middle School, on guitar and vocals. Vocalist and bass player Grace Kovalick, 14, a Newbury Park High freshman, joined Skick in December. SKICK appears on Sunday’s debut episode and March 4th is featured on the March 10 episode.
“Next Great Family Band” is a 30-minute weekly show produced by Meredith Video Studios and premiering Sunday on COZI TV, a network developed by the NBC-owned television stations division of NBCUniversal.
“It is the family dynamic that makes ‘Next Great Family Band’ very unique,” said Seth Feldman, the show’s creator and producer and vice president of Branded Entertainment for Meredith Video Studios. “In addition to seeing these bands rock out on stage, fans will get to know band members during family meals, homework sessions and carpool time.
“After searching the whole country for family bands, we were surprised that two of the finalists came from Ventura County. Our producers were thrilled to spend a few days in one of the most beautiful parts of country, hearing great bands and meeting amazing families,” Feldman said.
Three music industry experts critique and mentor the bands. They are Kimberly Locke, a finalist on “American Idol”; former Backstreet Boy Phoenix Stone; and drummer Samantha Maloney, who has played for bands such as Motley Crew and Hole. Viewers are encouraged to comment on their favorite bands on Facebook, Twitter and the show’s website.
Based on viewers’ comments, the industry experts will each choose a band to mentor during the second half of the season. The three final bands will perform in a grand finale at the end of the season, Feldman said.
Members of both bands and their families said the show’s producers invited them to participate by emailing them last year.
“We just got an email saying, ‘Would you like to be on a new TV show and would you like to come to New York,’” said the Fraye kids’ mom, D’Anne Fraye, adding that she initially declined due to the anticipated travel costs for the family of six. The producers were still interested so they waited until they found more bands to involve and several months later sent a production team to California to tape both local bands.
March 4th taped its performance in December at the Gibson Showroom in Beverly Hills, a location the Fraye family selected. The band played an original song called “Memories.” The performance was followed by a Skype chat earlier this month between the celebrities and the band.
“I’m excited about it. I really hope we win. I’m assuming the competition is going to be good,” said Lynnzee Fraye, who helped create her first band, Right of Light, at age 14.
As for the celebrities, Lynnzee said, “Their comments were really cool. They were helpful. They were really nice and said cool things.”
Garrett Fraye said, “I’m feeling pretty confident. It’s really fun.” He noted the advantages to being in a family band. “You can practice a lot more. You don’t have to schedule practices.”
The Fraye kids have known the Visser kids for a few years, having played at some of the same events and clubs. SKICK formed in 2009 when the siblings started jamming and writing music together. The band’s name comes from a Dutch slang word for “having fun,” which acknowledges the Vissers’ Dutch heritage (their parents immigrated from the Netherlands.) The band members also wear a lot of orange — the Dutch national color of celebration.
SKICK was approached to participate by email after the show’s creators found them on YouTube, said the kids’ mom, Gladys.
“We were so excited,” she said, adding that the TV crew came to their house to meet SKICK before the band recorded an original song for the show called, “Hope You Have A Good Life,” at the SIR recording studio in Los Angeles.
“It’s been really fun. Everyone was really nice and they tried to make it as easy as possible. It’s not every day we get on TV,” said Ruby, adding that the experts’ comments via a follow-up Skype chat were helpful and positive.
Grace and the Vissers are excited for their TV debut and are curious to see viewers’ comments on social media. Dad R.J. Visser, who has helped SKICK with bookings and encouraged his children’s musical education, noted that the episode could lead to more exposure for SKICK.
“It’s all about getting people to know us,” he said.
On the Net: www.cozitv.com.
© 2013 Ventura County Star. All rights reserved.
By Amy Bentley
February 15, 2013 at 8:03 a.m.
The search for America’s “Next Great Family Band” begins Sunday on a new reality television series featuring 15 family bands from around the United States — two of them from Ventura County.
Rock/pop groups SKICK and March 4th are each comprised of four teens ranging in age from 12 to 18. The bands and their members have played at numerous fairs, festivals and competitions in Southern California, as well as at clubs including the Whiskey a Go Go in West Hollywood.
The members of March 4th are Mitchell, Garrett and Spencer Fraye, 12-year-old triplets from Simi Valley who are seventh-graders at Valley View Middle School (and turn 13 on March 4), plus older sister Lynnzee. Lynnzee, 18, a Moorpark College student, plays piano, sings and writes music for the band. Mitchell plays drums, Garrett plays bass guitar and sings, and Spencer plays guitar and sings.
Members of SKICK, from Thousand Oaks, are siblings Ruby Visser, 16, of Santa Susana High School, on vocals and lead guitar; Trevor, 14, also a Santa Susana High student, on drums; and youngest brother Julian 12, who attends Redwood Middle School, on guitar and vocals. Vocalist and bass player Grace Kovalick, 14, a Newbury Park High freshman, joined Skick in December. SKICK appears on Sunday’s debut episode and March 4th is featured on the March 10 episode.
“Next Great Family Band” is a 30-minute weekly show produced by Meredith Video Studios and premiering Sunday on COZI TV, a network developed by the NBC-owned television stations division of NBCUniversal.
“It is the family dynamic that makes ‘Next Great Family Band’ very unique,” said Seth Feldman, the show’s creator and producer and vice president of Branded Entertainment for Meredith Video Studios. “In addition to seeing these bands rock out on stage, fans will get to know band members during family meals, homework sessions and carpool time.
“After searching the whole country for family bands, we were surprised that two of the finalists came from Ventura County. Our producers were thrilled to spend a few days in one of the most beautiful parts of country, hearing great bands and meeting amazing families,” Feldman said.
Three music industry experts critique and mentor the bands. They are Kimberly Locke, a finalist on “American Idol”; former Backstreet Boy Phoenix Stone; and drummer Samantha Maloney, who has played for bands such as Motley Crew and Hole. Viewers are encouraged to comment on their favorite bands on Facebook, Twitter and the show’s website.
Based on viewers’ comments, the industry experts will each choose a band to mentor during the second half of the season. The three final bands will perform in a grand finale at the end of the season, Feldman said.
Members of both bands and their families said the show’s producers invited them to participate by emailing them last year.
“We just got an email saying, ‘Would you like to be on a new TV show and would you like to come to New York,’” said the Fraye kids’ mom, D’Anne Fraye, adding that she initially declined due to the anticipated travel costs for the family of six. The producers were still interested so they waited until they found more bands to involve and several months later sent a production team to California to tape both local bands.
March 4th taped its performance in December at the Gibson Showroom in Beverly Hills, a location the Fraye family selected. The band played an original song called “Memories.” The performance was followed by a Skype chat earlier this month between the celebrities and the band.
“I’m excited about it. I really hope we win. I’m assuming the competition is going to be good,” said Lynnzee Fraye, who helped create her first band, Right of Light, at age 14.
As for the celebrities, Lynnzee said, “Their comments were really cool. They were helpful. They were really nice and said cool things.”
Garrett Fraye said, “I’m feeling pretty confident. It’s really fun.” He noted the advantages to being in a family band. “You can practice a lot more. You don’t have to schedule practices.”
The Fraye kids have known the Visser kids for a few years, having played at some of the same events and clubs. SKICK formed in 2009 when the siblings started jamming and writing music together. The band’s name comes from a Dutch slang word for “having fun,” which acknowledges the Vissers’ Dutch heritage (their parents immigrated from the Netherlands.) The band members also wear a lot of orange — the Dutch national color of celebration.
SKICK was approached to participate by email after the show’s creators found them on YouTube, said the kids’ mom, Gladys.
“We were so excited,” she said, adding that the TV crew came to their house to meet SKICK before the band recorded an original song for the show called, “Hope You Have A Good Life,” at the SIR recording studio in Los Angeles.
“It’s been really fun. Everyone was really nice and they tried to make it as easy as possible. It’s not every day we get on TV,” said Ruby, adding that the experts’ comments via a follow-up Skype chat were helpful and positive.
Grace and the Vissers are excited for their TV debut and are curious to see viewers’ comments on social media. Dad R.J. Visser, who has helped SKICK with bookings and encouraged his children’s musical education, noted that the episode could lead to more exposure for SKICK.
“It’s all about getting people to know us,” he said.
On the Net: www.cozitv.com.
© 2013 Ventura County Star. All rights reserved.
Ventura County Star
Meet five young bands who are ready for Local Rock Fest Ventura
Meet five bands who are ready to inject some teen spirit into Saturday's Local Rock Fest
By Karen Lindell
Friday, February 17, 2012
In American painter Thomas Cole's 1846 work "The Pic-Nic," the scene appears to be idyllic: Well-attired, mostly adult picnickers are seated beneath trees, surrounded by natural green splendor, while a troubadour in a cape serenades them with his guitar.
What's wrong with this 19th-century picture? Well, the kids are off to the side, relegated to their own blanket. And just one musician?
The 2012 Local Rock Picnic in Ventura on Saturday will paint a different scene. The second annual music fest aims to keep young people front and center, and that goes for the musicians as well as the audience.
Of the 13 bands scheduled to play during the all-day event at Ventura's Plaza Park, five are local bands composed of teenagers, with a few 11- and 12-year-olds and a 24-year-old tossed in too. The Local Rock Picnic is part of Ventura Music Week, which continues through Sunday with performances by musicians of all kinds at venues throughout Ventura. Many of the VMW shows are for all ages, but not the ones at bars, and how many tween-or-younger kids want to be dragged to a cafe or steakhouse, anyway?
The all-ages picnic, organized by local music promoter Brian Parra, gives families an opportunity to hang outside together casually and listen to music. Kids (or parents) can run around when they get antsy; the bring-your-own-food option is a bargain; and up-and-coming bands have a chance to hone their concert persona along with more seasoned acts like ska-reggae-punk group SkaDaddyz.
We asked each of the younger bands via email to share a little about themselves. Either someone's mom answered the questions or they are extremely articulate.
EXCERPT:
SKICK
Who's who:Ruby Visser, 15, Thousand Oaks (lead guitar and vocals); Emily McCrite, 13, Simi Valley (bass guitar and vocals); Trevor Visser, 13, Thousand Oaks (drums); and Julian Visser, 11, Thousand Oaks (rhythm guitar and vocals)
Current school(s): Santa Susana High (Simi Valley), Medea Creek Middle School (Oak Park) and Redwood Middle School (Thousand Oaks)
Website: SKICKrocks.com or facebook.com/SKICKrocks
Est.: 2.5 years ago
Album or EP?: "We recorded and released our first EP, 'Strings Are Cut,' in April 2011. We are planning to record a second EP this year."
Band name origin:s: "The name comes from a Dutch slang word for 'having fun.' We chose the name as a nod to the common Dutch heritage of the band members and because the meaning expresses/fits the central theme of the band: having a really good time playing music together, both for ourselves and for anyone who likes our music!"
Covers or original songs?: "Depending on the venue, we choose to mix in some covers, but most of the time we play full sets with our own songs."
Describe your music: "Our music is definitely very rock, with a pop sensibility."
Site of first public performance:?: A Halloween block party in Camarillo on Halloween 2009
Dream place to play in the 805: "We'd LOVE to play the Ventura Theater! We played at the Ventura County Fair in August 2010, and Spencer Makenzie's End of Summer block party for the past two years. We hope to play at both of those events in 2012 as well."
Plans: "We want to continue to have a SKICKing time with our fans. We plan to continue writing new original material and are always looking for opportunities to play as much as we can, especially bigger venues, and we hope to really expand our audience in 2012! We also plan to grow. There's a lot to learn as performers and musicians."
"The Ventura County music scene is ": :"ALIVE! We feel like we are definitely part of a music 'scene' of many talented young musicians. We've gotten to be friends with a lot of musicians and bands and we're looking forward to more of that. We have had so much support and encouragement from other bands and we try to give that back as well."
Favorite artist(s) nominated for a Grammy this year: Foo Fighters, Adele, Pink
Random thoughts: "Music is for everybody and for all times. We love to perform and hope to have a great time with our fans for a long time."
Meet five bands who are ready to inject some teen spirit into Saturday's Local Rock Fest
By Karen Lindell
Friday, February 17, 2012
In American painter Thomas Cole's 1846 work "The Pic-Nic," the scene appears to be idyllic: Well-attired, mostly adult picnickers are seated beneath trees, surrounded by natural green splendor, while a troubadour in a cape serenades them with his guitar.
What's wrong with this 19th-century picture? Well, the kids are off to the side, relegated to their own blanket. And just one musician?
The 2012 Local Rock Picnic in Ventura on Saturday will paint a different scene. The second annual music fest aims to keep young people front and center, and that goes for the musicians as well as the audience.
Of the 13 bands scheduled to play during the all-day event at Ventura's Plaza Park, five are local bands composed of teenagers, with a few 11- and 12-year-olds and a 24-year-old tossed in too. The Local Rock Picnic is part of Ventura Music Week, which continues through Sunday with performances by musicians of all kinds at venues throughout Ventura. Many of the VMW shows are for all ages, but not the ones at bars, and how many tween-or-younger kids want to be dragged to a cafe or steakhouse, anyway?
The all-ages picnic, organized by local music promoter Brian Parra, gives families an opportunity to hang outside together casually and listen to music. Kids (or parents) can run around when they get antsy; the bring-your-own-food option is a bargain; and up-and-coming bands have a chance to hone their concert persona along with more seasoned acts like ska-reggae-punk group SkaDaddyz.
We asked each of the younger bands via email to share a little about themselves. Either someone's mom answered the questions or they are extremely articulate.
EXCERPT:
SKICK
Who's who:Ruby Visser, 15, Thousand Oaks (lead guitar and vocals); Emily McCrite, 13, Simi Valley (bass guitar and vocals); Trevor Visser, 13, Thousand Oaks (drums); and Julian Visser, 11, Thousand Oaks (rhythm guitar and vocals)
Current school(s): Santa Susana High (Simi Valley), Medea Creek Middle School (Oak Park) and Redwood Middle School (Thousand Oaks)
Website: SKICKrocks.com or facebook.com/SKICKrocks
Est.: 2.5 years ago
Album or EP?: "We recorded and released our first EP, 'Strings Are Cut,' in April 2011. We are planning to record a second EP this year."
Band name origin:s: "The name comes from a Dutch slang word for 'having fun.' We chose the name as a nod to the common Dutch heritage of the band members and because the meaning expresses/fits the central theme of the band: having a really good time playing music together, both for ourselves and for anyone who likes our music!"
Covers or original songs?: "Depending on the venue, we choose to mix in some covers, but most of the time we play full sets with our own songs."
Describe your music: "Our music is definitely very rock, with a pop sensibility."
Site of first public performance:?: A Halloween block party in Camarillo on Halloween 2009
Dream place to play in the 805: "We'd LOVE to play the Ventura Theater! We played at the Ventura County Fair in August 2010, and Spencer Makenzie's End of Summer block party for the past two years. We hope to play at both of those events in 2012 as well."
Plans: "We want to continue to have a SKICKing time with our fans. We plan to continue writing new original material and are always looking for opportunities to play as much as we can, especially bigger venues, and we hope to really expand our audience in 2012! We also plan to grow. There's a lot to learn as performers and musicians."
"The Ventura County music scene is ": :"ALIVE! We feel like we are definitely part of a music 'scene' of many talented young musicians. We've gotten to be friends with a lot of musicians and bands and we're looking forward to more of that. We have had so much support and encouragement from other bands and we try to give that back as well."
Favorite artist(s) nominated for a Grammy this year: Foo Fighters, Adele, Pink
Random thoughts: "Music is for everybody and for all times. We love to perform and hope to have a great time with our fans for a long time."
Ventura County Reporter
Rock 'n' Roll High School The class of 2012
By Chris O'Neal 02/16/2012
EXCERPT:
Jamming after school in your bass player’s living room or the drummer’s garage, holing up in your bedroom writing lyrics working out melodies on your acoustic — this is where it all begins. Many of the bands featured in our Bands to Watch started playing together in high school as did their heroes. We decided it was high time we showed a little respect for the kids who, in between studies, chores and Facebook, find the time to make music. Here are some of our favorite local bands that have yet to don caps and gowns but probably keep their parents’ vacuum cleaners full of guitar picks. You can see all of them, save for sLaTr who had a previous engagement, at the Local Rock Picnic this Saturday, Feb. 18, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/localrockpicnic.
— Michel Cicero
SKICK
www.facebook.com/SKICKrocks
The Dutch slang from which Skick derives its name loosely translates as “having fun,” a motto the band emphasizes both on stage and in the studio. Coming off a year that saw Skick win the Simi Valley Days Battle of the Bands and make a big impression at the Sonic Sound Off competition in Los Angeles, the members of Skick, who range in age from 11 to 15, are focusing on quality over quantity for 2012. Guided by their parents, who pull producing and booking duties, Skick has made waves at big-name venues – the Whiskey in L.A. and The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, to name a few. Ruby, Trevor and Julian Visser may be siblings but would scoff at a comparison to Hansen. With influences ranging from Linkin Park to ZZ Top, the band, which includes bassist/vocalist/song writer Emily McCrite, is simply ripe with potential. Clothed in orange – the Dutch national color of celebration – Skick is on the verge of breaking through.
By Chris O'Neal 02/16/2012
EXCERPT:
Jamming after school in your bass player’s living room or the drummer’s garage, holing up in your bedroom writing lyrics working out melodies on your acoustic — this is where it all begins. Many of the bands featured in our Bands to Watch started playing together in high school as did their heroes. We decided it was high time we showed a little respect for the kids who, in between studies, chores and Facebook, find the time to make music. Here are some of our favorite local bands that have yet to don caps and gowns but probably keep their parents’ vacuum cleaners full of guitar picks. You can see all of them, save for sLaTr who had a previous engagement, at the Local Rock Picnic this Saturday, Feb. 18, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/localrockpicnic.
— Michel Cicero
SKICK
www.facebook.com/SKICKrocks
The Dutch slang from which Skick derives its name loosely translates as “having fun,” a motto the band emphasizes both on stage and in the studio. Coming off a year that saw Skick win the Simi Valley Days Battle of the Bands and make a big impression at the Sonic Sound Off competition in Los Angeles, the members of Skick, who range in age from 11 to 15, are focusing on quality over quantity for 2012. Guided by their parents, who pull producing and booking duties, Skick has made waves at big-name venues – the Whiskey in L.A. and The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, to name a few. Ruby, Trevor and Julian Visser may be siblings but would scoff at a comparison to Hansen. With influences ranging from Linkin Park to ZZ Top, the band, which includes bassist/vocalist/song writer Emily McCrite, is simply ripe with potential. Clothed in orange – the Dutch national color of celebration – Skick is on the verge of breaking through.
The Examiner
Sonic Sound Off Competition - day 3 recap
by Bob Leggett, Griffith Park/Los Feliz Examiner
September 15, 2011
The Sonic Sound Off competition was back for the third of four days of preliminary rounds on Wednesday night, September 14 at the Burbank Music Academy. Judge Delia Rae Taylor was absent but, judges Rosine Avedissian of All Star Planet, former Filter guitarist Alan Bailey and percussionist Voyce McGinley were again present. You can read the day 1 recap here: http://www.examiner.com/los-feliz-in-los-angeles/sonic-sound-off-competition-day-1-recap and day 2 recap here: http://www.examiner.com/los-feliz-in-los-angeles/sonic-sound-off-competition-day-2-recap.
The stage was taken over by youth, as Skick (www.skickrocks.com), made up of two brothers, their sister and their friend, ages 11-15 showed the adults how to play classic rock. The kids were super impressive with their original songs, featuring the vocal chops of everyone except the drummer. Lead guitarist Ruby looked like a younger version of Orianthi as she led the band, while bassist Emily conjured up images of a future female Sting. The band is based in Simi Valley, California.
The second band, The Film Noir (www.thefilmnoirsite.com) mixed the diverse sounds of the Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin with the sounds of Billie Holiday, Etta James and James Brown to form their own brand of visual rock. With a stage show reminiscent of early Alice Cooper, they put on quite a show for the judges and crowd. The band calls Silverlake, California home.
Third up was The Jade Element (www.thejadeelement.com), all the way from San Diego, California. This eight-piece jam band, featuring the stellar vocals of Rebecca Jade, combined elements of R&B, jazz and soul to form a smooth, soothing sound that kept the judges and the audience inspired and enthralled until their set was over.
The last performers for the night were Outliar (www.outliarmusic.com). The band is composed of six friends, all recent graduates of El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California. In fact, three of the friends have known each other since preschool. The band brought their A-game and their fans to pack out the room for their powerful show, which mixed rock, R&B and hip-hop in a genre they affectionately call "Hip-Rock." Their performance was electric and a fitting end to the third day of competition.
Although two of the bands were within six points of each other, the unanimous winner of the night was Outliar. Outliar will perform in the 4 p.m. slot at Sunday's Finals.
Tickets for the remaining night of the competition as well as the Finals are available on the Film Festival website under the Sonic Sound Off tab. Ticket sales are limited to 40 per night, as per the Fire Marshal's restrictions.
by Bob Leggett, Griffith Park/Los Feliz Examiner
September 15, 2011
The Sonic Sound Off competition was back for the third of four days of preliminary rounds on Wednesday night, September 14 at the Burbank Music Academy. Judge Delia Rae Taylor was absent but, judges Rosine Avedissian of All Star Planet, former Filter guitarist Alan Bailey and percussionist Voyce McGinley were again present. You can read the day 1 recap here: http://www.examiner.com/los-feliz-in-los-angeles/sonic-sound-off-competition-day-1-recap and day 2 recap here: http://www.examiner.com/los-feliz-in-los-angeles/sonic-sound-off-competition-day-2-recap.
The stage was taken over by youth, as Skick (www.skickrocks.com), made up of two brothers, their sister and their friend, ages 11-15 showed the adults how to play classic rock. The kids were super impressive with their original songs, featuring the vocal chops of everyone except the drummer. Lead guitarist Ruby looked like a younger version of Orianthi as she led the band, while bassist Emily conjured up images of a future female Sting. The band is based in Simi Valley, California.
The second band, The Film Noir (www.thefilmnoirsite.com) mixed the diverse sounds of the Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin with the sounds of Billie Holiday, Etta James and James Brown to form their own brand of visual rock. With a stage show reminiscent of early Alice Cooper, they put on quite a show for the judges and crowd. The band calls Silverlake, California home.
Third up was The Jade Element (www.thejadeelement.com), all the way from San Diego, California. This eight-piece jam band, featuring the stellar vocals of Rebecca Jade, combined elements of R&B, jazz and soul to form a smooth, soothing sound that kept the judges and the audience inspired and enthralled until their set was over.
The last performers for the night were Outliar (www.outliarmusic.com). The band is composed of six friends, all recent graduates of El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California. In fact, three of the friends have known each other since preschool. The band brought their A-game and their fans to pack out the room for their powerful show, which mixed rock, R&B and hip-hop in a genre they affectionately call "Hip-Rock." Their performance was electric and a fitting end to the third day of competition.
Although two of the bands were within six points of each other, the unanimous winner of the night was Outliar. Outliar will perform in the 4 p.m. slot at Sunday's Finals.
Tickets for the remaining night of the competition as well as the Finals are available on the Film Festival website under the Sonic Sound Off tab. Ticket sales are limited to 40 per night, as per the Fire Marshal's restrictions.
Ventura County Star
Bands to play Friday in Simi as benefit for UNICEF
By Michele Willer-Allred
Posted October 16, 2010 at 3:15 p.m.
When members of the young local band SKICK play in concert, they often wear orange to symbolize pride in their Dutch heritage.
The color is also associated with Halloween, one of the band’s favorite holidays. That’s why it made sense for the group, made up mostly of family members, to choose Halloween as the backdrop for a charity concert it organized to help other kids.
The concert, to feature four young bands, will take place 7-11 p.m. Friday at Arena Sports Grill and Bar, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley.
Tickets at the door will be $10, and all proceeds will go to UNICEF, the official sponsor of the event.
SKICK, named after the Dutch slang word for “having fun,” has members from Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks and is fronted by 14-year-old Ruby Visser, who plays lead guitar, and 12-year-old Emily McCrite, the bass player. The girls share vocals for the band.
Ruby’s brothers — Trevor, 12, on drums, and Julian, 10 — make up the rest of SKICK.
Last month, the band won the $2,000 grand prize at the Sycamore Battle of the Bands competition at Simi Valley Days.
The members of SKICK said they wanted to do something meaningful for other children and thought music would be their best outlet. So they came up with the idea for a benefit rock concert and contacted UNICEF for its support.
Since 1950, UNICEF has supported Halloween-related fundraising campaigns throughout the U.S. to help raise money for medicine, better nutrition, safe water, education, emergency relief and other support for children in more than 150 countries.
“The people at UNICEF thought the idea for the benefit concert was very unique and gave their approval. Since then, the band has been trying to get the word out about the concert for a very worthwhile cause,” said RJ Visser, the father of three of the band members. He also helps promote the band.
Three other local bands will be playing: Right of Light, JetStream and Taxi Doll.
Right of Light consists of five 16-year-olds from Simi Valley and Chatsworth: Kevin Pugh, Kevin Karp, Austin Herzig, Christophe Allard and Lynnzee Fraye.
The Los Angeles-based JetStream, which has been signed by RCA, is made up of Garrett Zelle, 16; Kevin Seven, 14, and Ben Zelico, 16. The group has opened for multiplatinum-selling band Creed and will be opening for Stone Temple Pilots on its world tour in Florida.
The Los Angeles-based band Taxi Doll, fronted by Blondie-inspired lead singer Dhana Taprogge, had a single, “Waiting,” which climbed to No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay chart.
SKICK, which plays some cover songs but mostly writes its own music, has played the Orange County Fair and the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood.
For more information about SKICK and the benefit concert, go to http://www.facebook.com/skickrocks.
By Michele Willer-Allred
Posted October 16, 2010 at 3:15 p.m.
When members of the young local band SKICK play in concert, they often wear orange to symbolize pride in their Dutch heritage.
The color is also associated with Halloween, one of the band’s favorite holidays. That’s why it made sense for the group, made up mostly of family members, to choose Halloween as the backdrop for a charity concert it organized to help other kids.
The concert, to feature four young bands, will take place 7-11 p.m. Friday at Arena Sports Grill and Bar, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley.
Tickets at the door will be $10, and all proceeds will go to UNICEF, the official sponsor of the event.
SKICK, named after the Dutch slang word for “having fun,” has members from Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks and is fronted by 14-year-old Ruby Visser, who plays lead guitar, and 12-year-old Emily McCrite, the bass player. The girls share vocals for the band.
Ruby’s brothers — Trevor, 12, on drums, and Julian, 10 — make up the rest of SKICK.
Last month, the band won the $2,000 grand prize at the Sycamore Battle of the Bands competition at Simi Valley Days.
The members of SKICK said they wanted to do something meaningful for other children and thought music would be their best outlet. So they came up with the idea for a benefit rock concert and contacted UNICEF for its support.
Since 1950, UNICEF has supported Halloween-related fundraising campaigns throughout the U.S. to help raise money for medicine, better nutrition, safe water, education, emergency relief and other support for children in more than 150 countries.
“The people at UNICEF thought the idea for the benefit concert was very unique and gave their approval. Since then, the band has been trying to get the word out about the concert for a very worthwhile cause,” said RJ Visser, the father of three of the band members. He also helps promote the band.
Three other local bands will be playing: Right of Light, JetStream and Taxi Doll.
Right of Light consists of five 16-year-olds from Simi Valley and Chatsworth: Kevin Pugh, Kevin Karp, Austin Herzig, Christophe Allard and Lynnzee Fraye.
The Los Angeles-based JetStream, which has been signed by RCA, is made up of Garrett Zelle, 16; Kevin Seven, 14, and Ben Zelico, 16. The group has opened for multiplatinum-selling band Creed and will be opening for Stone Temple Pilots on its world tour in Florida.
The Los Angeles-based band Taxi Doll, fronted by Blondie-inspired lead singer Dhana Taprogge, had a single, “Waiting,” which climbed to No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay chart.
SKICK, which plays some cover songs but mostly writes its own music, has played the Orange County Fair and the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood.
For more information about SKICK and the benefit concert, go to http://www.facebook.com/skickrocks.
Ventura County Star
SKICK wins Battle of the Bands at Simi Valley Days- Ventura County Star
By Michele Willer-Allred
Posted September 19, 2010 at 5:55 p.m.
A local rock band made up mostly of family members who pay homage to their Dutch roots has won the bragging rights of best young band in Simi Valley. The band SKICK, whose name is a take on “schik,” the Dutch word for “having fun,” won the $2,000 grand prize Saturday night during the second annual Sycamore Battle of the Bands at Simi Valley Days.Local teen bands competed during the summer through the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, and three bands were chosen to play on the main stage during the finale on Saturday.In addition to SKICK, the rocks bands Slatr and K.O.N. competed in the final.
Each band had 20 minutes to impress a panel of judges with music ability, stage presence and audience interaction. A large audience gathered to see the bands perform. Sheri Fruhwirth, recreation specialist in charge of teen events at the park district, said all the bands were so good that the final judging results were very close. SKICK, with members from Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, is fronted by 14-year-old Ruby Visser, who plays lead guitar, and 12-year-old Emily McCrite, the bass player. The girls share vocals for the band. Ruby’s brothers — Trevor, 12, on drums, and Julian, 10 — make up the rest of SKICK, who play up their Dutch heritage by wearing orange during gigs. All the members of SKICK started playing musical instruments at a very young age and have extensive stage experience playing both cover songs and their original music in front of large audiences. They also write their own songs and credit artists such as Linkin Park, Pink, Paramore and Black Sabbath as influences. “I think tonight’s performance was the best performance we’ve had so far,” Ruby said after Saturday’s show.
McCrite, who writes the band’s material with Ruby, said the group plans to spend the prize money on merchandise for the band.
In the audience Saturday were many family members from each band.Leticia Bonilla and Pam Walden came out to see their sons Stefan Bonilla and Matt Walden, both 16, play in the Simi Valley band K.O.N., which was a crowd favorite. Trevor Oberender and Trebor Herr are also in K.O.N.
Kelly Stedman of Thousand Oaks was in the audience to see her 10-year-old son Teagan play guitar in the band Slatr, which also includes Andrew Muccitelli, 11, from Simi Valley; Christian Renard, 12, from Calabasas; Jack Dorian, 12, from Oak Park; and Trevor Smith, 11, from Thousand Oaks.
“They’ve all been working really hard for this day. I’m very proud of them,” Stedman said.
Simi Valley resident Robert Falcone, a songwriter who has played in a symphony orchestra and rock bands, was in the audience.
“I’m just awestruck by their talent,” Falcone said.
VC Reporter
Home spun
SKICK
By Chris Jay 09/09/2010 (VC Reporter)
Old enough to rock
It’s not uncommon to see a group of high school-aged teenagers form a band. The result is usually short-lived, and fairly amateur for obvious reasons, but there are always a few talented exceptions. Pre-high school rock bands, though, are almost unheard of. When most kids their age should just be discovering the joys of rock and roll, most likely through the video game Guitar Hero, the four members of Skick are becoming actual guitar heroes themselves.
The family that plays together
Like most extremely young bands, Skick is composed primarily of members from one family, the Vissers. When R.J. Visser and his wife moved to America from the Netherlands 16 years ago to start a family, they were both adamant that their children would be just as educated in music as they would in English or Math. Taking piano lessons at an early age, lead guitarist and vocalist 14-year-old Ruby, 12-year-old drummer Trevor, and 10-year-old guitarist, Julian were eventually enrolled into a music program aimed at teaching children multiple instruments and songwriting at an early age. It was there that they met Simi Valley's 12-year-old bassist Emily McCrite. After all becoming fast friends and finding their chosen instruments, Skick, Dutch slang for “having fun,” was born.
SKICK alive!
There is a buzz building around SKICK, and it’s undoubtedly due to its live performances. Decked out in some form of orange, a color of celebration in Dutch culture, Skick take the stage looking as though it’ll be pretending to play along to a recorded track. But almost instantly when the audience realizes the band is actually playing the instruments, the disbelief turns into pure enjoyment. The sight of a kid barely as tall as his guitar belting out the intro to Ozzy’s “Crazy Train” is downright inspiring. What’s scary in terms of potential is that, although these kids have a handful of covers, they’ve now begun writing and performing originals.
Fathers know best
One can’t help wondering how a band so young can be on top of so much, whether it’s booking, writing or even getting to shows via something other a bicycle. Truth be told, the Vissers’ father R.J. and Emily’s father, Mark, handle the heavy lifting literally and figuratively. R.J. handles the booking and promotional aspect of things while Mark, an accomplished musician in his own right, handles the musical direction, helping the band form riffs and ideas into finished songs. This isn’t some over-the-top, controlling dual Joe Jackson situation. SKICK’s parents are friendly and supportive, adamant that their kids have a good time. But they’ve also instilled a solid work ethic, making sure the band regularly practices and plays shows of all sizes. Letting the kids learn early on that, much like sports, being in a band requires a massive amount of work.
While dad-ager, R.J. insists that the goal one day is to make the band “as big as can be,” he also insists the band members grow naturally as people and musicians, finishing public school and still enjoying growing up. With that said, there will be no record deal hunting just yet, and things will continue to stay in the family, but their latest original song makes it clear what the musicians themselves want. “Don’t Waste My Time” is a blistering ode to not doing homework, proving that the talented kids of SKICK are, thankfully, still are just kids.
To check out Skick online visit www.facebook.com/skickrocks. They’ll be appearing at Simi Valley Days Battle of the Bands on Sept. 18.
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