Band on the run; Marblehead teens gaining national notice

MARBLEHEAD – For as long as Jessica Prouty can remember, rock ?n? roll has been a major part of her life.Now a senior at Marblehead High and the lead singer of the Jessica Prouty Band, Prouty?s love for music dates back to her childhood, when her father, a self-taught guitarist and lover of classic rock, taught her how to play guitar.?I grew up dancing in the living room to my dad playing The Beatles,” Prouty explained while she strummed on her bass guitar in her living room Monday.By the time Prouty started singing at Marblehead?s Clifton Lutheran Church, her voice stood out to all who heard it. “Everyone would tell my parents how great my voice was, but they didn?t really believe them,” Prouty said with a chuckle.Voice lessons soon followed and, by sixth grade, Prouty was writing her own music and playing in her first band, The Undecided Youth.Prouty?s producer, Brian Maes of Briola Records, said he first heard a sample of Prouty when she was just 11. Impressed by Prouty?s talent for such a young age, Maes invited her to attend a Monday night band series for kids which he put on. With Maes? help, Prouty started polishing her music and finding other local teens for “The Jessica Prouty Band,” which has been together for four years strong.?We got Cam Pelkey, who actually played in my first band with me to play the drums, and Andy Covino, who also took lessons with Brian, to play keyboard,” said Prouty.Lastly, Maes brought in Cody Nilsen, a pupil of his musical companion Charles Lawry, to play lead guitar. Prouty, who was inspired by Led Zeppelin and Evanescence, chose to take on roles as both lead vocalist and bass guitar.?A lead vocalist who also plays bass is rare. There are bands who have done it, like Sting and the Go-Go?s, so you do see it, but it?s rare and very impressive” said Maes. “For their age their skills are very sharpened and they?re up for the task. I?m confident of them because of their hard work.”Ever since their days playing in the Garage Band Series, the Jessica Prouty Band has been working its way to the top, touring from Pennsylvania to Northern Maine during the summer and practicing as often as possible.?Over the past two years we?ve played around 70 shows a year,” said Prouty, who describes the band?s music as alternative heavy rock with a classic rock backbone.?We?ve played at places like the Hard Rock Café in Boston, Higher Ground in Burlington, Vt., Six Flags New England and New York, and we opened for Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at the Maine Lobster Festival.”Most recently, the Jessica Prouty Band performed at an event on Jan. 15 sponsored by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the 2010-11 SchoolJamUSA Battle of the Bands at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif. Placing second overall, Jessica Prouty also received the award for best vocalist and the band?s drummer, Pelkey, was named best percussionist.Project Manager at NAMM Jennifer Paisley-Schuch said the Jessica Prouty Band was one of 48 amateur teen bands chosen for the competition based on its level of technicality and the quality of their original music. Narrowed down by public vote, the Jessica Prouty Band was one of 10 finalists who performed at the battle.?They are just a really good band musically. They play really well together, and each individual is good. They?re comfortable on stage and you can see that,” said Paisley-Schuch. “They did a really great job and put a lot of effort into the marketing aspect of it as well.”There isn?t much disagreement over the band?s talent, either. “My peers and musical comrades can?t say enough good things about them. They?re at a level far beyond their age, personality-wise as well,” said Maes. “I credit the Prouty household for that. Jessica?s mother runs a tight ship to make sure the kids are doing what they should be doing. All of their parents are very supportive, and that?s key.”Since their performance at SchoolJamUSA Battle of the Bands, Prouty says the band has gotten a lot mo