The boys of Labeled start to make their mark with local gigs

By Lee B. Roberts
Journal Times

Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:27 PM CST

‘Tis the season, it seems, for young musicians in southeastern Wisconsin to make a name for themselves. A group of young teens in Racine —with the help of their parents — recently got together and put on an all-ages show which featured the musical talents of several area teen bands.

It all started with a band called Labeled that wanted to play for audiences. When one of their parents, Jeff Gustin, set out to help them find a place to play he didn’t have much luck until he asked the owner of Greg’s Catering in Franksville. Greg Pankow was willing to let the group perform in his banquet hall, and Gary Lekas, from Gary’s Music World, volunteered to do sound for the show.

Before long, other friends and family members of the band had rallied around to plan and promote the event which ended up being a Halloween-themed show with a costume contest. While they were busy learning more material for the show, members of Labeled also auditioned other bands to play with them at the event.

The result was an evening of entertainment for more than 125 teens and their parents, featuring a range of music that included everything from punk to industrial metal. The bands played for three hours and even the host was impressed by the success of their efforts.

Pankow described the audience as very well behaved and said the bands “were really talented and a pleasure to watch. The groups and their friends are welcome here anytime.”

Not bad for a band, Labeled, which has been together for less than a year. The group, which is made up of four boys, ages 12 through 15, also performed earlier this year at Racine’s Party on the Pavement and the Sacred Heart Parish Festival. The other bands who played at the all ages event are The Reinforcements and Bury My Enemies.

Labeled would like to do more events of this type, both at Greg’s Catering and other venues. To learn more about the band and their plans for future teen shows, visit http://www.labeled-band.com

Special Offer: Get 5 Weeks of the Journal Times for $7!