Every band’s goal is to not simply sound different, but to be different. Alternative bands consisting of teenage boys have been springing up all over the nation since the 80’s. Nowadays it is not unusual for every high school to have one or more group of guys that have formed their own band. Currently at the school, there are three bands that fall under this category: Third Year Freshman, Wasted America and Diplegia A.M. These bands have very different names, sounds and have very different, but admirable, aspirations.

“Diplegia is a type of paralysis,” senior Jeremy Panich said. “My singer and I thought it fit well because that is what music does to us. The A.M. part signifies morning, which is our favorite time of the day.”

Panich is the guitarist, show booker and sound manipulator of Diplegia A.M. In every band, each member contributes time, dedication, money and talent. They all have a love for music, which brought them together. Some bands have been together for years, while others have just recently started. Although Third Year Freshman has been together for a short period of time, they have competed in a Battle of the Bands and played several gigs.

“Our band has been together for five weeks,” sophomore Dustin Baum said. “But we have four shows this month and maybe some in November.”

Typically, bands are not thrown together randomly. Often members are already friends or linked together by common interests.

“A love for music and skateboarding has held our band together for about a year,” freshman Mike Valentine of Wasted America said. “We haven’t done any gigs or concerts yet, but we’re looking at two.”

Wasted America consists of bassist Valentine, as well as guitarist Cy Chachere, a sophomore.

“It will be one year this December,” Panich said. “Our first show was a battle of the bands at Naaman Forest High School where we got first place. No one had heard of us and we walked away with two hundred dollars. It was great.”

Diplegia A.M. has also played at clubs in Deep Ellum such as at The Door and Tomcats. They do not plan on having another show until after they record a CD.

“We will be in the studio this winter to record our CD, which will be given away for free,” Panich said.

Not all bands, however, are fortunate enough as to afford a studio. Hard work has paid off to reward Diplegia A.M. the luxury. The band normally rehearses three to four times a week, regardless of the mood of any member.

“Rehearsals can be great or horrible—it just depends if everyone’s energy is on the same level,” Panich said. “If it is then we can jam for hours. If not, then we’re just ready to rehearse the set and get out of there. But on a week before a show we rehearse seven days a week,” Panich said.

As for Third Year Freshman, Baum’s mother voluntarily allows the boys to practice in her house.

“We rehearse about two times a week,” Valentine said. “It’s fun because we’re in a garage.”

Whether a band can afford a studio or not, they are still likely to end up spending a lot of money. Diplegia A.M. spends $200 per month to pay for the studio’s rent.

“We spent about five hundred dollars on equipment,” Valentine said. “We try to keep it cheap.”

Some bands spend more than others; it all depends on the instruments and how much band members are willing to pay for their music.

“I have strings, pedals, amps and guitars, which [adds up to] well over two thousand dollars on just myself,” Panich said. “My bassist spends just about the same amount, but then again he doesn’t have as many pedals as I do. As for my drummer, let’s just say I feel for him and drummers all around.”

Generally, most drum parts mark well over eighty dollars apiece. Baum has invested a lot on his drum set. To the everyday non-band member, a hobby like this is ridiculously expensive and not worth it. For these boys, however, it is about more than just money.

“[Music] is used to forget about everything negative,” Baum said. “Future career wise, we don’t know where it will get us.”

As for Diplegia A.M. and Wasted America, members say that they keep it up because they enjoy music and a hope for a career.

“I love doing it,” Panich said. “It’s an escape and it gives us a chance to create music that redefines reality.”

Each band must work to find their own niche in the music business, and have to discover what makes them different.

“We’re serious when we practice,” Valentine said. “We take negative feedback offensively, but also as a way to improve. Also our lyrics come from the heart.”

“I always try to find my own style,” Panich said. “My top favorite influences are John Frusciante of The Chili Peppers and Jeremy M. Ward and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta.”

Many bands try to set themselves apart from the media-streamed music found on MTV, only to end up sounding the same.

“Everyone sounds emo and hardcore nowadays,” Panich said. “Society already has this sound everywhere—they don’t need fifty different rip-off bands. To me, Diplegia A.M. sounds like nothing. It is really hard to hear your own music and label it because we see it from a different point of view. If I had to say, we sound like Pink Floyd partying at Santana’s house and The Deftones crashing it.”

Panich said he doesn’t pay attention to anyone’s criticism because he has a distinct vision of Diplegia A.M., and believes that no one can tell them how to improve. Third Year Freshman also believes the same concept, and Wasted America finds it hard to label their sound as well.

If the school’s bands were to classify and label themselves under genres, Third Year Freshman considers themselves hardcore, post hardcore and screamo. Valentine of Wasted America categorizes his band under punk, rock and screamo, while Diplegia A.M. considers themselves experimental, rock, salsa-rock and a jam band.

Experimental seems to be the correct word, for one of these days in the near future Diplegia A.M., Third Year Freshman or Wasted America could possibly be apart of the ‘rich and famous’ world many admire. Their names could be just as familiar to teenagers as bands like Brand New, Led Zepplin or the recent MTV media hit, Panic! at the Disco.