Does rock’n’roll still live?

According to the members of Vinyl, an eclectic hoard of teenage musicians hailing from our very own Palm Harbor University High School, rock’n’roll is alive and kickin’. One of Vinyl’s key members is Sam Tarantino who plays piano and sings. He also writes most of the lyrics to the band’s original music. Peter Wellings has been playing percussion for Vinyl since 2003. Tim Tracy plays lead guitar. Jeff Goar plays guitar as well, while Dustin Schapiro rocks the bass, Jessica Manning performs back up blues vocals and Ian Black, aka Jack Sparrow from our Marching Band’s half-time show, leads the horns section.

The band began to form in early 2003 when Tarintino got together with Wellings and Black. The band was later completed in 2004 by the joining of Schapiro. The ensemble took the stage at the PHUHS Bandamonium and won first place. Over the last year, various members have come and gone, and the band maintains associates that play some shows and not others, such as senior Jeremy Blythe, a trombone player and Elaine Wilson, a female vocalist. The band performed at the YMCA’s Fight for the Mic and received second place. In March of this year, they won first place in round one of the Battle of the Bands at Boomerz Lounge and if the band wins round two in April, they will be signed, according to their website.

The band derives its influences as well as its covers from musicians such as Pink Floyd and Eric Clapton. However, Sam Tarantino claims that his lyrics are inspired by “the mystery of love.” Although Vinyl’s sound could be described as classic piano rock with jazz and blues influences, each of the members has a variety of influences and tastes. Wellings derives inspiration from bands such as Rush and Led Zeppelin, Tracy listens to AC/DC, guitarist Joe Satriani as well as other metaphorical music. Tarantino listens to the Black Crows, Black rocks out to 80’s music and the Dave Mathews Band and Manning is influenced by the singing of Mariah Carry and blues goddess Aretha Franklin.

Vinyl frequently plays at the venues Gasoline Alley in Clearwater, at Boomerz Lounge in Seminole and at the Neptune Lounge in Tarpon Springs.

“It has an intimate setting,” Tarantino said in regard to Gasoline Alley, the band’s favorite venue, although they agreed that Boomerz was a close second because of its huge stage.

If you would like more information about Vinyl visit their website at www.plpfilms.com/vinyl