On The Download: Teen Bands Rock!

A little over a decade ago, Hanson knocked people’s socks off with “MMMBop,” but it wasn’t just what the song meant that had everyone baffled. As you’ll recall, it was the band’s ages. The three brothers were only in their teens and tweens and not only did they play their own instruments, they wrote their own songs.

The Jonas Brothers have kept the tradition alive, writing many of their own songs as teens and playing their own instruments, but they aren’t the only ones.

We here at Access Hollywood’s music division think you need to know about a few more bands of young-uns who are prepared to knock your socks off all over again.

Drive A

Meet Drive A from Southern California. Three of the four members are still in high school and aren’t even shaving yet (we think), but they play the kind of garage metal music that has tattooed-up veteran fans flocking to their shows.

Our eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when caught them opening for ‘80s aping rockers Metal Skool at the Sunset Strip’s Key Club earlier this year, and again opening for Dave Navarro’s supergroup cover band — Camp Freddy — in May.

Later this summer, these real-deal kids are sharing a concert bill with Stone Temple Pilots, Kid Rock and System of A Down’s Serj Tankian, where they’ll be leaping and head banging across the stage, playing some of the charged-up songs from the full-length album they just recorded with producer Julian Raymond (Cheap Trick). They are totally adorable and fierce – AT THE SAME TIME!

And if those aren’t good enough reasons to check them, they’ve been endorsed by none other than Tommy Lee, who told his fellow elder musicians to prepare.

“These boys are serious!” he said. “Everyone better watch out or start practicing more.”

Push Play

Who knew that a band formed by Long Island teenagers could be so entertaining? Well, this group is.

Push Play (CJ Baran, Steve Sarcola, Nick DeTurris and Derek Ries) has the kind of tunes you just can’t get out of your head — and you won’t mind!

More amazing, they play instruments AND sing. Keeping music education alive in schools is apparently working in New York.

They’ve slowly but surely been building a loyal fan base of mostly teenage girls, but soon enough people in other demographic groups will be pushing “Play” to hear their music.

From “Away, Away” to “Far From Beautiful” and “Situation,” these kids keep your head bopping and feet moving. Add in a little time contemplating the lyrics and listening to this band is really an idea that works out just nicely.

Their youthful energy is mixed with mature vocals. They are rock, pop and electronica all mixed together. You can tell they dig Simple Plan and Panic at the Disco, but they also have an edge that’s a little Metallica.

The summer is about fun and this group is just that… fun. Check them out at www.myspace.com/pushplayrox or as they tour all through the state of New York this month.

Their debut album is “Deserted.” Enjoy.

Black Tide

While they sound like they could be a heavy metal band from the ‘80s, fresh off a tour with Iron Maiden, the four members of Black Tide were in diapers during metal’s heyday.

But their young years (they are all under the age of 20) didn’t stop the Florida foursome, from crunching out Metallica-inspired riffs on the main stage of Ozzfest last year.

Their latest disc, “Light From Above,” has already spawned a hit on rock radio, with the heavy-yet-melodic “Shockwave.”

Click HERE to visit Black Tide’s web page.

Watch for them to rule the Hessian crowd for years to come.

Copyright © 2024 by NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More

Dolly Parton Reacts To Beyoncé Covering 'Jolene' On New Country Album 'Cowboy Carter'