Through dedication to their art and a shared love of music, local teenage bands provide a third space. Bands such as Killamajig, Who In The Room, Velia and Primavera provide entertainment and build community among youth.
According to the Killamajig bassist Garett Schlank, a band “rapidly breaking into the local scene” of Souderton and its surrounding area, has experienced growth in the local band community.
“I’ve seen [the local music scene] kind of explode recently,” Schlank said. “I think we’ve entered a period where a lot of people want to play music really badly, so bands are becoming more of a thing around here.”
Who In The Room bassist Jacob Fortino shares this experience.
“I don’t know if [the scene] has expanded or if it’s just that we have now found it, but it does seem there is a really cool, new, heavier scene out there,“ Fortino said. “It’s not quite metal. It’s a lot more punk-oriented.”
For Schlank, this scene matters because it allows space for teenagers to hang out and create connections.
“Third spaces are a big thing,” Schlank said. “It’s very much beneficial to people in general to have a place to go.”
“Having regular shows or anything like that helps build community,” Schlank said. “It gives people experience being there with strangers and gives them an opportunity to actually get outside.”
Fortino believes this experience is especially important for teenagers seeking a sense of belonging.
“Younger kids that come to our shows and go to other shows with us are really getting to know the scene, and they’re really getting that culture,” Fortino said. “It gives them something to [be] a part of.”
Fortino feels that the local scene is not only impactful because it can “expose a lot of younger people to a lot of cool, interesting music,” but also because it provides a forum for meeting new people and creating meaningful relationships with peers.
“Slowly, people are starting bands, or seeing bands, and then they want to start a band. People from other bands are starting bands with each other,” Fortino said, “so it’s kind of becoming this whole big net of people.”
“I think it can just generally be a good social thing: meeting new people that like music, and making friends, is good for the younger community,” Fortino said.
On top of this, being a part of a band can help youth build life skills and direction.
“Being in a place where almost everything we do is student-led and driven, it kind of sets a precedent for people to be able to put a little bit of effort into what they’re doing,” Schlank said.
For Primavera drummer Ben Reed, a “really big thing is connections and who you know.”
“It’s very important to network and socialize with different types of people,” Reed said.
However, for many, the importance of transparency and connection is not limited to networking outside of the band.
“It’s really important to have a great communication process within the band as well, and a big thing with that is the importance of being able to sacrifice your own ego for the good of the group,” Reed said.