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Arts & Entertainment

Kids Kick the Jams at Davis Rock Band University

Rock 'n' roll may be a dinosaur on the radio, but plenty of Davis kids have the beat.

Olive Drive in Davis really rocks: Across the parking lot from the climbing gym Rocknasium sits the new studio for Rock Band University.

Music teachers Mike Clements and Evan Daly have guided dozens of Davis kids, compiled into more than 40 bands, through the Rock Band curriculum. Their new studio, painted purple and carpeted industrial gray, has a raised stage, a state-of-the-art sound system, and armchairs and couches for parents hanging out.

Back in 2009, the two guitar teachers at downtown's Watermelon Music had settled in for another "long, boring summer," as Clements puts it, as there's not as many music students during those months. So Clements and Daly pitched the idea of a rock band camp to the city of Davis: Campers ages 10-15 would learn, during an intense week of rock 'n' roll classes, the basics of everything necessary to play as a band. By the end of the week, including lots of homework practice, they could play a whole set list of cover tunes and perhaps perform at the E Street Plaza Summer Concert series held on Fridays.

"They have to have their own instruments and be able to play chords and scales," Clements said. "Then, we teach them everything they need to know from the ground up."

The City of Davis Parks and Recreation Department allowed Rock Band University to use the old Third and B Teen Center for practice space. Parks and Rec also helps out with publicity.

"There was a tremendous response. We had no idea there was so much talent out there looking for an outlet," Clements said.

The popularity surged, and then, disaster. After a few months in the makeshift studio, The teen center closed and Rock Band University folded.

Clements and Daly went back to teaching full-time at Watermelon Music. They soon began hearing from the young musicians' parents, asking how to keep the rock band program alive.

The pair scouted out locations where amped-up rehearsals wouldn't be a problem.

"It just so happened I heard that Screaming Squeegee was moving out of its space in South Davis. So I hustled over to Olive Drive, checked it out, cut a check for the first month's rent and we were back in business," Clements said.

The latest band, as yet to be named, performed Friday at E Street Plaza.

"A name? That's just way down on their list of priorities right now, after all the practice they've been crankin' on,"  Clements said.

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