Past 13 Rocks It Out [with VIDEO]

You can hear Past 13 from outside their rehearsal spot, and they sound pretty good.

In fact, they sound real good.

They sound like a band that knows its stuff, that has a foot in rock and roll, a foot in punk, and yet is standing right here in the now.

If you didn’t know better, you’d be hard pressed to believe that this band is made up of kids who aren’t yet seniors in high school.

Who are those guys?

Past 13 has been a band since June. Its current lineup is Connor Atkinson, 16, lead guitar; Sean Keegan, 15, rhythm guitar; Dan Pierce, 17, bass; Brian Johnson, 14, drums; and Brittany Anderson, 15, vocals.

Playing out

Past 13 has played four or five gigs so far, and has one on Saturday, at Altone’s in Jewett City.

Past 13 is starting the show, at 6:30 p.m. Also playing will be Barb Tetreault, Michaela Debenedictis, Angry Bears, Michael Cookson, and That’s What She Said.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $12 at the door. Most of the bands have tickets. For more, click here.

Also upcoming, Past 13 is going to be in the New London Youth Talent Show at the Garde Theater, on Saturday, March 24.

Past 13’s first gig was at the Music Bureau in Salem. It’s a music store, with a small performance area, but there was room for family and friends, and the band had fun. The band has already played the El ‘n’ Gee Club, Jan. 21, during one of the winter’s few snowstorms.

They’ve played twice at The Workshop in Mystic, as well, with 75-100 people at each gig.

You can check out gigs, find out more about the band, and see photos at their Facebook page. Click here!

Who writes?

Connor says he pretty much writes the guitar lines, and then, “we all come up with our own parts,” says Brittany.

The songs are “improvised, more or less,” says Dan.

Favorite song?

The band pretty much agrees that “Smell the Roses” is the current fave.

“We know it the best,” Connor says. “It’s more put together.”

“It gets the crowd going,” Brittany says.

Being on stage

Even in rehearsal, the band members move. Connor hits the beats with his legs and his head. Brittany sways and moves. Brian is a presence behind the drums, and Sean has a steady, rhythmic stance. Dan and Connor put their heads together to hammer a word or phrase, and on stage, they say, they joust with their guitars.

It’s tough, though, being in front of an audience, and things aren’t always smooth.

“Some of us freeze,” Dan admits.

Brittany says she has stage fright, but she manages.

Favorite bands?

• Green Day
• The Ramones
• Led Zepplin
• AC/DC
• Vines
• The Clash
• Medina Lake
• Blink 182

“Anything, as long as it’s not country or rap,” Connor says.

Their moms

Kathy Pierce, Dan’s mom, sits in on the practice. She knows pretty much all their songs, she says, and she’s a huge fan.

“She’s the best ever,” the band members say.

“All the band moms are great,” says Brittany.

The future

So what do they want, this brash, talented band?

“I want to get famous,” says Brittany. “I want us to get big.”

“Music is my frigging life,” says Connor. “I don’t want to settle for anything less.”

Brian agrees.

He’s setting out this summer on something called the URock tour, which, according to the website, gives “unsigned artists from all genres, ages 13 and up, (the chance to) tour with mainstream artists and gain national exposure.” Musicians like Brian pay for the tour - $375 a month for 12 months, at his level - and he is seeking sponsors.

For Dan, it’s a little different. The band is great, he likes being with his friends, but he’s a baseball player, and he’s serious about it. This summer, he’ll be playing at the AAU level, and will work gigs and band practice around hi sport.

Brittany says she models, and has other pursuits that keep her busy, too, but that music is huge for her.

Sean says he has no problem with practices or gigs.

“I don’t do anything (else),” he says. “I play guitar.”

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect date for the New London talent show.