Keeping that rock and roll feeling alive
Band of Millstone teens hopes to rock Finale Hill to the top
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer

Millstone's Mike DiGuglielmo, 17, (l-r), Kevin Basko, 16, Jimi Maraday, 17, Larry Edwards, 17, and Frankie Prendergast, 17, make up the rock band Finale Hill.

MILLSTONE - The band Finale Hill doesn't just want to play rock music, it wants to save an era.

The teenage musicians from Millstone, becoming known for their instrumental skills and complex compositions, shiver at the mention of one-hit wonders and don't rattle off today's mainstream bands when questioned about their musical influences. Instead, their pupils dilate and their voices become shrill talking up the music of legendary bands like Rush, Led Zepplin and Yes. Their goal as musicians also seems much loftier than those of most young enthusiasts playing in garages and basements all across America today.

"We want to save what the world is about to lose in music," Jimi Maraday, 17, said. "Music is going downhill."

The band has taken it upon themselves to keep pushing the music of the '70s up hill and possibly back to the top of the charts, thus the moniker Finale Hill.J

imi's 10-year-old brother devised the concept "Finale Hill" on a ride home from school over the rolling hills along Rising Sun Tavern Road.

"Finale Hill is the grand finale," Jimi explained. "It's the last step before your final destination. We liked the concept and adopted it as our name."

The band is comprised of Jimi who plays a Fender Stratocaster and provides the lead vocals; Kevin Basko, 16, who plays a Gibson SG Standard as the lead guitar; Frankie Prendergast, 17, who plays an autographed Victor Wooten Fender Precision Bass and a hand-built bass; Larry Edwards, 17, who plays Yamaha keyboards and synthesizers; and Mike DiGuglielmo, 17, who plays drums.

The group formed for an Allentown High School Battle of the Bands. As the longtime friends got together to practice for the show, they soon realized they all had the same taste in music and that they clicked in the studio.

"We are all friends who know each others' talents," Frankie said. "We can have a 10-minute jam session off one little riff."

Four of the five members work with personal music instructors, which they believe gives them the discipline required to make their band more than just some kids in a basement throwing together some riffs to see what will stick. Finale Hill members practice four to five times each week, with marathon practices from morning to night on Saturdays. Their music is also self-recorded.

As a testament to his dedication, Frankie said, "When I wake up every morning, I just want to play my bass."

Frankie draws inspiration from bass greats Victor Wooten and Geddy Lee and thanked his electric bass teacher, Chris Plunket, for being an endless source of support in his musical career.

Jimi said he idolizes Jimmy Page and Eric Johnson. He said his love for music may be a result of his dad waking him up singing "Tom Sawyer" every morning.

Larry added that all of the band members' parents have done a lot to help Finale Hill further its musical career, and gave special thanks to the Prendergast family for converting their basement into a sound studio. He also noted his wish to be able to tour with Rick Wakeman, of Yes, and John Ward, of Deep Purple.

Kevin professed admiration for Joe Perry, of Aerosmith as well as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, and gave credit to Ed Cedar, who taught him how to play guitar.

Mike said he aspires to have talent like Neil Peart and Mike Portnoy and gave praise to his first drum teacher, Andy Miller, for motivating him to the place he is on the drums today. Mike said his goal is to one day have a drum kit that expresses who he is.

"I've been in quite a few bands with friends, but this is the first one that I actually feel could go all the way," Mike said.H

e continued, "These four guys are my best friends. It's great to have friends with strengths on different instruments because there's nothing better than standing on a stage playing to huge crowds with your friends. The band rocks and I love playing with them."

Jimi writes the lyrics, but all of the members of Finale Hill take turns writing songs. The group has four originals in their set, which is otherwise filled with covers of songs by rockers from their favorite era and a few later works from bands like Guns N' Roses and the Black Crowes.

Finale Hill plays at local venues such as Finnegan's in East Windsor and as far away as the Staten Island Zoo in Staten Island. The group recently opened for The Hoodies at The Saint in Asbury Park.

The band has an upcoming show at the Jackson Outlets in Jackson from 1-4 p.m. July 19, which is sponsored by Coke. Finale Hill will also perform in the Freehold Battle of the Bands at the Monmouth County Hall of Records Annex parking lot at 4 p.m. Aug. 30.

To be able to live its passion of getting up on the stage and connecting with the crowd through their music, Finale Hill books its own shows and works with Jersey Shows, an entertainment group that links New Jersey music lovers to local touring bands, and through online services such as MySpace and iTunes, which have helped broadened its fan base to areas of the country the band has never been.

The band hopes to "hit it big" and be able to tour New Jersey, the country or the world one day, but is currently putting a lot of effort into getting a demo/album ready for distribution.

"We just want to keep that rock feeling alive," Frankie said.

Those interested in learning more about the band and listening to its originals, "Two Months Too Late" and "The Many Sounds," can visit www.myspace. com/finalehill.com.