High schools across the country have their fair share of run-of-the-mill garage bands jamming in their spare time, hoping to maybe play a prom or homecoming gig. Then, every once in awhile, a group of talented teens come together and actually churns out some digestible tunes and snags some stage time to boot. La Jolla High has one such garage band: Neveready. Comprised of nine teens who range from 17 to 19, Neveready is working hard to get the word out and maybe even become a local musical fixture. Since its January inception, the band has managed to glean shows at local charity events, the Metaphor Café in Escondido, Queen Bee’s in North Park where the band went head-to-head in a battle of the bands competition, the Splash Bash fundraiser and now the Mainstage at Soma. “Our first Soma Mainstage show was kind of a fluke,” said Jay Sanchioli, Neveready’s bassist. Sanchioli knew that one band was dropping out of an upcoming performance. A connection with a booking manager was made and now Neveready’s becoming quite possibly a Soma mainstay. The band’s next show there is Nov.13. It’s a venture they feel is promising, because most of the attendees of Soma concerts are youth who will be able to grow along with members of the band. Group members are excited for the last three bandmates to turn 18, so they can begin performing at the Casbah, a longstanding San Diego venue for up-and-coming talent. As for its sound, Neveready’s music is a surprising amalgam of ska — first and foremost — blending reggae, soul and funk rhythms into the mix. Neveready is also known to gain inspiration from the likes of the Manchester Orchestra, a band that’s decidedly more indie. But don’t be fooled, Neveready doesn’t want to bore fans with oft-heard imitations of mainstream ska. “We love ska, but we don’t want to become a stereotypical ska band, because if we play only ska it can get kind of redundant,” said Declan Halloran, the band’s drummer. “We want to branch out, try to incorporate different types of music into our songs, like The Specials.” If you’re looking for a decent comparison of what its sound is reminiscent of, think Streetlight Manifesto — Neveready’s all-around favorite band. It’s live sets include long instrumental interludes, excitable lyrics that exude energy from the crowd and solid horn playing backed up by the trombone, trumpet and three saxophonists. Declan’s father, Mike Halloran, was a famed disc jockey at FM94.9 and provides the band with some insider tips that appear to have served its members well. “Basically, my dad taught us about etiquette,” said Declan. “Be polite to other bands, don’t talk too much during sets and have good manners on and off stage.” Christian Clark, 17, the band’s guitarist and vocalist, also claims that the group’s dedication to perfection is another factor for success. “I guess at the end of the day, I just feel like we’re never ready,” said Clark, chuckling. Despite a shifting change of the guard that occurs with increasing regularity due to band members heading off for college, Neveready claims it will continue to thrive, proving that this band just might be ready for anything. Neveready Christian Clark: guitar and vocals Declan Halloran: drums Jay Sanchioli: bass Sam Bradhurst: guitar and vocals Keyan Jafari: trumpet Adam Vickers: trombone Patrick Hallahan: tenor saxophone James Wigle: baritone saxophone Mike Hom: tenor saxophone Upcoming Show: Neveready will perform live Nov. 13 with The Skank Agents, Ballyhoo and The Supervillians at Soma, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd. No. I, $13, (619) 226-7662, www.somasandiego.com.
