11 Letters Long of Clarkston will open the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce’s Concerts in the Park series Friday.
The band, composed of all Clarkston High School students, performs in the Local Talent Spotlight before the headliners take the stage.
Band members include: Jon Brown, drums; Brandon Boozer, rhythm guitar and vocals; Greg Davis, keyboards; Alex John, vocals; and bassist Brennan Haase.
With their current band members set for only six months, 11 Letters Long is busy creating a solid reputation in the area. Last March, in fact, the band placed in the top ten at the Detroit News? Battle of the Bands.
‘We had five or six original songs and we heard about the battle, but had nothing recorded. We shotgun recorded ourselves at our drummer’s church and sent in a copy. We were picked in the top ten and were able to perform at the State Theater,? said band member Brian Shepanek.
11 Letters Long promises to offer a unique sound to go with their name.
‘We were talking about getting a name. We figured out that 11 Letters Long has 11 letters and so is ‘we need a name? and it stuck. 11 Letters Long,? said Shepanek.
Classic rock fans should have no trouble enjoying the opening act.
‘Our sound is classic rock. We do originals and covers written by artists like the Beatles, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Billy Joel,? said Shepanek.
11 Letters Long hopes this is one more step towards their future goals.
‘We have a dozen originals and are in the process of recording an album which hopefully will be done by the end of summer,? said Shepanek.
Besides the album, Shepanek said the band hopes to continue performing one or two gigs a month, including more work for the Chamber of Commerce and Clarkston High School’s own battle of the band competition.
The Concerts in the Park series is scheduled at Depot Park on Depot Road near downtown Clarkston on June 17 and 24, and July 1, 8, 15 and 22. The opening bands will perform from 6:30?6:55 p.m., followed by the headliners who will play until 9 p.m.