Slam. Sticks hit the plastic cover of the snare and bounce back up a few times, slowly warming up the crowd as the band gets set up. The first few notes of a bass guitar drift into the room. The bass comes in and vocals start to draw the crowd in to capture the moment as the band begins their performance.
Revere eighth grade students Myles Kelly, Sam Hogan, and Lorenzo Ortiz along with Copley senior Christian Petite make up the band SLAM (created using the first letter of each members name). Performing everywhere from the Porchrokr event in Akron to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on February 3rd, these four young artists cover music as well as create original songs.
The band formed during Ortiz, Kelly and Hogan’s Sixth grade year. They each were a part of the band program at the Middle School and joined together to perform in the 2022 Variety Show at the High School. As their interest and skill grew, the trio expanded their group and took more opportunities to show their talent.
“In seventh [grade] we played Are You Gonna Be My Girl at the Variety Show [and] that was just the three of us. We figured it’d be better to have two guitarists, so we got someone from band camp. [Christian Petite] is a high schooler at Copley and he’s our bassist. He’s also our backup vocalist,” Kelly said.
This year the band played Steady as She Goes by the Raconteurs and Looking Out For You by Joy Again. The crowd loved them so much that the band came on for an encore of Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet that had the audience on their feet and clapping to the rhythm.
Petite met the band at The Akron School of Music at one of their rock summer camps. Looking for a band to join himself, Petite fit into what the members were looking for and ended up becoming their newest addition and an integral part of their foundation.
With his dad, uncle and grandfather being guitarists as well, Kelly comes from a musical background. He not only plays guitar, which he learned from his grandfather, but piano as well. When it comes to writing music for the band, Kelly takes the lead and initiates a lot of the conversation.
“I’m usually the one that starts us off in writing music, I just kind of doodle a lot. I’m mostly playing, like just trying to find stuff that is original. When we play at the Rock Hall, we’re going to be playing one of our original pieces,” Kelly said.
Every year the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame puts on a competition for middle school and high school students, providing a place for them to come and share their music with the chance to walk away with a cash prize. There are three rounds — February 3rd, February 10th, and February 17th — all culminating in The Final Exam on March 2nd in which the “Best Band In The Land” will be chosen. This year, SLAM is excited to perform February 3rd and show off their talent.
“We have been talking about it since we started and then with Christian leaving high school next year, we figured, let’s do it. And we signed up and got accepted. We actually found out later that’s the last rock off that’ll ever be held,” Kelly said.
As for any band or team effort, communication and friendship is very important in SLAM. Keeping a clear dialogue and allowing everyone’s ideas to be heard provides for a creativity inducing environment. Though they have begun to dabble in original music, for the most part SLAM is a cover band. In order to fairly choose music they are all interested in, they have devised a system that allows everyone to be heard.
“We do this thing where we sit in a room and we give song ideas. It’s usually the majority, like it has to be at least three out of the four people that like it,” Kelly said.
Having played the drums since he was two years old, Hogan has kept his passion blazing through dedication and by continuing to challenge himself. Branching out into different techniques, styles and songs, Hogan takes his art very seriously but still lets it be relaxed and enjoyable.
“My favorite part is the feeling. You just like to get into a groove. Just the ability to kinda go down in my basement, I have a drum set in my basement, it’s just so open I can just go down there whenever I want,” Hogan said.
Karen Hogan, Sam’s mom and supporter has watched his love and skill for music grow over the past few years. During COVID-19 especially, Sam’s passion exploded as he was able to put more time into practicing.
“I think it’s his natural talent. This is just who he’s been since I could see him move. He’s really been very focused on playing. He picked up a guitar last summer, has self-taught and plays guitar now too. It is his focus and passions and natural talents. He’s willing to put the time in to get better, too,” Hogan said.
The main thing Hogan has seen grow throughout the years the band has been together is their confidence in themselves and their performance.
Overall, SLAM has made a name for themselves and this is only the beginning of their musical journey. The band also indirectly advocates for young musicians wanting to share their talents. Many young artists are overlooked due to their age, but that is no restriction when it comes to hard work and dedication.
