The Weekly Newspaper of Manhattan Beach Herald Publications - El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 Vol. 6, No. 3 February 21, 2013 Inside Outstanding Students at MeetingCoordinating Council Recognizes This Issue Courtesy of Lynne Gross The February luncheon of the Manhat- tan Beach Coordinating Council featured Student of the Month awards to three students. In introducing American Martyrs Stu- dent of the Month, Peter Zinsli, the school principal made clear that Peter was not getting the award because he Calendar...............................2 has leukemia but rather because of how he has inspired everyone as he has been battling the disease. In an emotional speech, she lauded his courage and the wonderful example he has set for Classifieds ...........................2 his fellow classmates. The Mira Costa High School Student of the Month is Taylor Lewis, who was the Co-Secretary General for the Model Food...............................4 & 5 of the girls’ basketball team and theUnited Nations. She is also team Captain President of Friendship Circle. Lauren Tong of Manhattan Beach Middle School is a diligent leader, People ..................................2 particularly in journalism and English. For group work, she keeps her fellow students on task and contributes in an excellent manner. She is also a Police Reports....................2 in national competitions.synchronized ice skater who competes Seen here from left to right: Taylor Lewis, Lauren Tong and Peter Zinsli. • Politically Speaking...........3 Valentines Specials...........7 Local Band ‘Smiles’ Joins John Lennon Educational Bus Tour, Releases Album By Dylan Little songwriting contest--not a pop contest or a Franklin to obscure stuff like Os Mutantes.” Fresh off winning the John Lennon rock contest. Fortunately, we won out and Even through it just released its first album, Songwriting Contest and playing the National won it.” Smiles is already looking toward the future, Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) As part of winning the songwriting contest, having written enough songs for two more convention in Anaheim, Smiles--a South Bay- Smiles got to play on the John Lennon albums and hoping that the momentum from based five-piece indie-rock group--is releasing Educational Tour Bus stage at NAMM. Sharing will provide more opportunities to its first album, Sharing. Band members Devin However, it nearly missed out on playing reach a bigger audience. Jimenez, Lauren Jimenez, Jonnathan Romero, the set. The group arrived at the Anaheim “We already have two albums-worth of Weekend working on the record for six years. initially said the event would be rained out. out of recording studios. For the time being,material ready to go,” said Lopez. “We arealways working on new things and in andConvention Center ready to perform onNAMM’s outdoor stage, but the organizersUnlike bigger rock acts, Smiles had toAustin Anderson and Jesus Lopez have been Forecast has been in the works for a long time--since it off,” said Lopez. “But then they called us that next big step.”we are still stepping forward. Now that wehave the album ready, we hope we can take“Unfortunately on the day of, it startedraining--but California rain…so they calledschedule studio time in between working dayjobs and playing shows together. “The album 2007,” said Lopez. “We spent most of 2010 last-minute and said we could play. We made Unlike many bands in its position, Smiles to 2012 recording it, in between tours and it, we played our set and people dug us.” doesn’t hope the future includes a record Friday in between jobs.” Smiles was formed by Devin Jimenez and rather manage itself. The money Smiles getsdeal. Instead, Lopez said the band wouldThe album debuted on February 10 and is Sunny available on the website www.smilesmusic. talented guys individually, and band and the thought is that giving all thatfrom playing shows all goes back into the“This is a group of five verycom. The band is currently working on 74˚/54˚ getting the album added to iTunes’s library. you see that come across. We money and time to a company to profit from The members describe their sound as part put a great show live. The music would be a waste. traditional rock, drawing inspiration from is there and we are still getting “We are trying to keep it a family--very performers like the Beatles and Jeff Buckley, better.” self-contained,” said Lopez. “We put so much Saturday music. Romero, who were childhood friends and it. Just giving it away wouldn’t be worth itof our own time and energy and money intoand part drum-oriented experimental pop AM Clouds/ “It’s part rock, but it’s part Animal both drummers looking to play together. for us. We don’t touch any money from this. PM Sun said Lopez. “It started very experimenal and with Anderson until solidifying into this All the money goes back into the band.”Recording albums and winning aEventually, the band added members startingCollective-style harmonies and drum beats,” 75˚/54˚ the final product still is.” lineup in 2010. songwriting contest are achievements for the In addition to releasing the album, one of What brought the members together was band, but it is most proud of its live shows, the biggest highlights for the band this year not only their skill as musicians, but also whether those occur on tour at colleges was taking grand prize in the John Lennon their common direction as artists. They share between San Diego and Monterrey Bay or on Sunday Songwriting Contest. recalls initially being interesting in joining is already known for its stage presence andPier Avenue in Hermosa Beach. The groupmany of the same diverse influences. LopezWhile Smiles’ primary focus has been Sunny writing more mainstream-friendly music, the the band because they were all fans of the dynamic sound and is only looking to improve. 66˚/53˚ muscles and record music that would show 1970s’ post-punk band Television. individually, and you see that come across.“This is a group of five very talented guys“When I joined the band, it was because wecontest allowed the group to flex its creative off its talents in song craft. had a shared love of Television--that kind of We put on a great show live,” said Lopez. “We spent a few days recording new songs punk” said Lopez. “And Jeff Buckley, but we “The music is there and we are still getting for that specifically,” said Lopez, “It’s a are into a little bit of everything from Aretha better.”•
Manhattan 02_21_13
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