If you want your teenagers to be responsible, productive members of society, encourage them to start a rock group, writes Anna Carey
The world of rock'n'roll may seem an unlikely place to learn about life. This is the industry that produced Keith Moon and Pete Doherty, after all. But behind that debauched facade there often lies a world of creative enthusiasm, responsibility and hard work. And so, if you want your teenagers to be responsible, productive members of society, encourage them start a rock band. That's what Robert Stephenson thinks, and he should know. Stephenson is the founder of Blast, a non-profit organisation devoted to encouraging a community of teenage musicians and artists. For more than five years Blast has organised gigs for under-18s all over the country. And although Stephenson, who has been involved in music promotion for two decades, is still the guiding force of the organisation, the kids are in control.
"The directors are all teenagers," he says. "Some of them have been coming to the gigs since they were 14. They started handing out flyers, then they moved on to booking bands. Blast is operated by the kids, for the kids." And the kids are all right. "Part of our philosophy is to empower young people, letting them make responsible decisions themselves, like choosing to come to gigs just for the music, not to drink or do drugs," says Stephenson. "We trust them, and they don't let us down."
No matter how empowering it may be, it's not always easy being a teenage rocker. Your friends aren't all going to be willing to put in the necessary practice, you can't get into over-18s venues (and most owners won't let you play there anyway), you can't afford a practice space and you have to get your parents to give you - and all your equipment - lifts to practices and shows. But it's worth the hassle, and it's not impossible to get started if you follow some easy steps.
STEP 1: FIND SOME LIKE-MINDED FRIENDS
You can start a band by putting up an ad outside a music shop or on a school noticeboard (which is how the Pixies and U2 started), but it's always easier if you've got a ready-made band in your circle of friends. Senate, a four-piece from Glasnevin, in Dublin, are all 15 and have known each other since childhood. They think they're a good musical mix. "It just always feels right," says guitarist James Heavy. "I can't imagine playing with another band now." Two former Senators went on to form a new band, Holy Showcase, whose frontwoman, Chloe Coogan, is the band's only female member. "I wish more girls were into starting bands," she sighs. "But none of my friends from school were interested. They like listening to music, but that's it. And I can't just do that. I have to be involved in making music, too." Hard-working Tallaght teenagers Chewing on Tinfoil played their first gig a year ago, but they've been friends for a lot longer than that. In fact, guitarist Al McNally and bassist and singer Stu Daly have been friends since primary school. "Al tricked me into getting a bass guitar," says Stu. That's what friends are for.
STEP 2: FIND A NAME
Can't really play your instruments yet? Don't have any songs? At least you can come up with a suitably rock'n'roll name to inspire you. Just don't expect to stick with your first choice, because lots of bands play several gigs before fixing on a final name. My college-era band didn't have a name at all before our first gig, at the Attic, and the gig organiser, a college friend whose band were also playing in the show, got so fed up waiting for us to come up with a name that he just listed us on the poster as The Band Anna's In. (I still have the poster.) Holy Showcase went through several names, including the rather glam-rock Class Trash, before drummer Michael McCaughley came up with their new one. Inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. Chewing on Tinfoil got their name when frontman Stu was recommended to try chewing tinfoil, which, it was claimed, would spark electric shocks in his fillings. None of the band has tested the theory. "We haven't put our money where our mouth is," says drummer Ben Clavin. "Or even our tinfoil where our mouth is." His bandmates, quite rightly, groan.
STEP 3: FIND SOMEWHERE TO PRACTISE
Older bands can usually afford to hire practice studios. And if they want to practise at home, they're unlikely to live with parents who might object to the noise. Teenage bands aren't so lucky. But with a little ingenuity they can figure out a practice space. Senate and Holy Showcase both use a large shed in Senate guitarist James's back garden. "It can be a bit too loud, so sometimes the neighbours complain, but my parents don't mind," says the shed's owner. Chewing on Tinfoil are even luckier: they've got a whole house to practise in. "My dad owns the house next door, and it has become our practice house," says Al. "We're really lucky. We can practise there and just chill out afterwards. It's perfect." If you don't happen to have a spare house lying around, your shed (or your sittingroom if your parents are feeling generous) will have to do.
STEP 4: WRITE SOME SONGS
Everyone plays covers when they start a band, but sooner or later you've got to begin writing songs of your own. And deciding who gets creative control can be tricky. But these teenage bands seem to be handling it quite well. "I usually come up with the riff, then we all start playing and see how the song goes," says Senate's James. Holy Showcase's Ciaran O'Rourke writes the guitar riffs while singer Chloe provides the melodies and lyrics. Chewing on Tinfoil are even more democratic. "Stu usually writes the lyrics, but we literally write the songs together," says Ben. "And then we just tear them apart." But until you've built up a large catalogue of your own work, covers are a great way of learning your craft. And it's never too early to start. "When we were in sixth class I had a really crappy drum kit in my attic," says Senate's Luke Murphy. "Me and James used to go up there and just play Smells Like Teen Spirit for three hours in a row."
STEP 5: PLAY A GIG
Unfairly enough, this might be the hardest step of all. Most live venues are for over-18s only - and that usually includes the performers. "We played in Voodoo Lounge, but we had to leave the venue the minute we left the stage," says Ben of Chewing on Tinfoil. This makes it pretty difficult for young bands to play. Neither Senate nor Holy Showcase have played a public gig yet (although they've put on impromptu shows for their friends in James's shed). The solution is to put on all-ages shows in the daytime, so teenagers can come to a booze-free venue and watch their friends perform. Blast have been doing this for six years, first in Dublin and now all over the country. But venues are reluctant to host all-ages shows, partly because they can't sell alcohol at them. Others compensate for the lack of booze sales by pushing up the cost of the venue - Blast was forced to suspend its Dublin gigs when Temple Bar Music Centre started charging a whopping €3,000 an event (the usual cost of hiring the venue in the evening is €400-€600). To make back this money, Blast would have to charge ticket prices that would be beyond the reach of the average teen.
Such high costs are typical for Dublin venues, although Blast's branches around the country have met with a more generous response: they've got a regular slot at Cork's prestigious Half Moon. "Last year we put on 100 gigs around the country," says Robert Stephenson. "But unfortunately there are no more Dublin gigs planned."
Although the Blast concerts began in Dublin, the organisation spread countrywide as a result of public demand. "Kids were coming to the Dublin gigs by train and bus, from all over the country," says Stephenson. "They were asking us why we didn't put on gigs in other towns. So we organised one in Waterford, and it just took off from there." The young people who demanded those concerts are now running the organisation everywhere, from Sligo to Swords. And all without sponsorship or public funding.
STEP 6: BE NICE TO YOUR PARENTS
You'll need them to serve as your roadies and tour managers. Our three teenage subjects all seem to be blessed with very supportive parents; Chewing on Tinfoil's Ben even enlisted his father, a graphic designer, to do the cover art for the band's first EP. And his bandmate Al's parents often offer advice. "They come in from next door and say: 'Hmm, that didn't sound too good.' They like to offer constructive criticism." Many of these budding rock stars come from musical families. Al's parents were into ska and two-tone, music genres whose influence can be felt in their son's band. Chloe Coogan's parents are equally enthusiastic. "My dad is really musical, and he's really glad I'm into playing music," she says. "He's especially happy because it's so rare for girls to be in bands."
STEP 7: GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT
Ash famously turned down the offer to support Pearl Jam on tour because they had to do their A-levels, but these young rockers aren't all sure they'd do the same thing. "You can always go back and do the Leaving again, but you'll never be able to do that concert," says Senate's Fionan Gunn. Chewing on Tinfoil are slightly more sensible: they're cutting down on gigs for the next few months to concentrate on the Leaving Cert, in June. Ben and Al have applied to do music-related college courses, but Stu says he has sold out. "I'm going to do biotechnology." Holy Showcase are undecided. Some of her bandmates are determined to stay in education, but transition-year student Chloe says she would give up school for rock'n'roll. "I wanted to drop out after my Junior Cert, so this is a trial year to keep my parents happy."
STEP 8: BECOME A BETTER, HAPPIER, PERSON - BY HAVING FUN
Being in a band is one of the most rewarding and just plain fun things you can do, and most parents would prefer their children to have a creative hobby than to hang around the streets, slump in front of the television or sit glued to their Xbox. But why should kids bother to start to play music if they're going to have nowhere to do it? "Politicians acknowledge the need for more facilities for young people, and they're always saying they're going to offer them," says Robert Stephenson. "So why don't they put their money where their mouth is? The organisation is already there; all we need is the funding. It costs €250,000 a year to keep one young person in a remand centre. That money could fund all of Blast for a year."
Sadly, when the Government spends money on facilities for young people, all it usually offers is more sporting facilities. Lots of teenagers, even armchair sports fans, are not going to be lured off the streets by the offer of a basketball court or a hurling match. The community offered by the music scene can have a much more positive effect. The work involved in rehearsing and putting on gigs can be intense, but the sense of achievement when it comes together is amazing. "It takes up a lot of time, but I love it," says 18-year-old David Byrne, one of Blast's many teenage directors.
Playing with a band and putting on concerts gives a creative outlet to young people who might otherwise have nothing to do but hang around all day. "What we really need are purpose-built youth arts centres," says Robert Stephenson. "Kids could put on gigs there, but not only that, they could hold other creative events, like art exhibitions and craft markets. We need to really engage young people. They're capable of organising great things, but they're just not given the opportunity. And if you treat kids like second-class citizens, that's how they're going to act. I believe they deserve better."
You can find out more about Blast at www.blast.ie. Its next concert is at the Half Moon, Cork, on April 24th