Several Revere High School students banded together to perform at the 2012 Variety Show, each warming up their voices to surprise the audience. Together, the four proceeded onto the stage. They wanted to do something that would get the crowd’s attention. Instead of wearing white t-shirts and black dress pants, which they considered formal, the group wore black t-shirts and white pants. Someone had cracked a joke about the group being called the Plain Black Tees, so they considered the suggestion and decided to become the Plain White Pants. From then on, the group went to perform at other Variety Shows, adding two new members along the way.

The Plain White Pants is a Revere High School student-created band consisting of members Senior Christianos Burlotos, Junior Ben Fink, Senior Max Marsillo, Junior Mike Miller, Senior Jack Nece and Junior Mackey Totten. The group originally was made up of Burlotos, Marsillo, Miller and Totten, who performed in the 2012 and 2013 Variety Shows; however, Fink and Nece joined the group for the 2014 Variety Show and the 2014 Winter Recognition Assembly. They have performed songs such as “Airplanes” by B.o.B. and Hayley Williams and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz. The group uses violins, drum kits, pianos and synthesizers in their performances.

According to Miller, the band started his freshman year in 2011, and he was inducted after Burlotos had requested for him to be the group’s violinist. Marsillo spoke of how he was invited to join the band.

“Christian called me over the phone and [said] ‘Hey, do you want to do something for the Variety Show with me, Mackey, and Mike;’ I told him I was really interested because Christian is a nice guy, and they were all really talented performers… We practiced at Christian’s house, and we learned the songs and played [together] ever since,” Marsillo said.

Nece voiced that each member of the band has musical talents that cannot be expressed in choir and that the Variety Show seemed like the perfect opportunity for these talents.

Laurie Russell, director of the 2014 Variety Show Revere’s Got Talent, explained why they chose the group to perform this year.

“They were chosen because of their talent. Also, it was a large group, so it was nice to have a lot of kids involved. Their quality of singing was good. I knew it would be very popular at the show because of the songs that they sang. They had a lot of personality on stage, and they had a lot of great ideas on how to fancy up their act,” Russell said.

Burlotos voiced what separates the Plain White Pants from other student bands.

“We have a lot of fun with it… everybody is kind of singing along with the acapella part… everybody has a main part.  It’s not like one person sits in the corner and plucks the guitar, so everybody has their unique part and that kind of brings it together… [Each]  is an interesting and funny person, so we have a personality as a band,” Burlotos said.

Miller explained that the band does not use sheet music, and that they figure out parts such as the piano or violin lines on their own. They also delegate certain parts and combine them as a group during their rehearsals.

Fink voiced that the group’s rehearsals are scheduled over a group chat due to each member’s busy schedules that constrict them from meeting more often.

Marsillo discussed the genre of songs the group performs, as well as how the group makes them their own.

“Usually we either like to do some country song that we could do up a little in our own way or a kind of hip hop song that has rapping and singing. What we like to do is take those songs and not necessarily transform them, but put them in a way that is a little bit more original,” Marsillo said.

Nece explained how the group came up with the idea to perform the song “I’m Yours” at the 2014 Variety Show.

“Our original arrangement was two Fun. songs, and when we began to practice them they became very difficult. . . Then someone played ‘I’m Yours’ and we said ‘let’s do it,’ and we were able to pick it up in what seemed like ten minutes,” Nece said.

Totten said that the group decided to perform “I’m Yours” because it is an enjoyable song to perform, and because there are multiple acapella arrangements for it.

Burlotos explained how the group set up their acapella performance at the 2014 Variety Show.

“This year, Max and Ben did the instrumentation… Mackey and Jack sang the high melody, [which is] the main [chorus].  Mike Miller does harmony.  He has a really good ear, so he can listen and add what he wants to put in… I sang the same melody that Mackey and Jack sang, but an octave lower, so it kind of added to the fullness of the sound. . . Mackey and Jack would switch off, so that the other one would be doing background vocals almost like a background singer in a normal band,” Burlotos said.

The group performed an acapella song and a regular song because it showed off the group’s musical ability and versatility. Totten expressed his experience with the band, and what the band and music overall means to the members.

“My experience has been great. It’s a good way to just get together with a few buddies and do something we love. I think music has always been a shoreline for all of us, just guiding us home in the tough times,” Totten said.

Marsillo explained why he enjoys performing in the Plain White Pants.

“I have been very into music since I was really young. I have been playing drums for over six years and playing music especially live is a huge thrill for me. It has kind of been like my passion. It is kind of what I want to do for the rest of my life, so it’s just fun for me,” Marsillo said.

Burlotos voiced the group’s future plans.

“We always talk about doing something, but everybody is really busy and really involved with a lot of stuff.  Max is involved in a couple bands and with sports and everything, so we haven’t really done anything outside of school yet,” Burlotos said.

Nece spoke of what his memory of the band will be should the group discontinue.

“We’ve had a good time performing, and if it is over, it is over, but it is definitely one of the experiences I’ll save for the rest of my life,” Nece said.

The band says they will always remember the experiences that they have had throughout their performance history. While the group has not made any concrete plans for the future, they are considering moving forward by performing at venues within Ohio.