A day in the life of local alternative rock band Jetstream consists of hard work, raging performances and screaming fans. Over the course of four years, this band earned a winning title for the Global Battle of the Bands in London and performed alongside renowned rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Along the way, Jetstream has also developed a strong sense of brotherhood.
Agoura natives, drummer Benjamin Zelico, bass player and back-up vocalist Kevin Grimmett and singer, song writer and guitarist Garrett Zeile created the all-boy rock band after they met at the Paul Green School of Rock Music in 2006. They had an immediate connection, and after hours of playing their favorite rock songs together, the boys fostered their combined talents and began composing music of their own.
“[The songs] are unique in a sense because they all start differently,” said Zeile. “I write about [a variety of] things, but [the songs] are usually about girls, and I just try to create different stories that I want to share with the audience.”
The boys have a strong bond, as they were able to grow and learn together as a band. Over the years, they have learned how to combine their strengths in order to create incredible pieces of music. Jetstream eventually entered themselves in the Global Battle of the Bands in the United States. Although the boys were the youngest in the competition, they walked away with a first place victory. Their triumph gave the band a spot in the Battle of the Bands in London where they excelled and finished the competition in second place.
“Battle of the Bands helped us as a band because we were able to watch a lot of different bands from around the world perform,” said Zelico. “From those performances, we were able see what we liked, and [we] incorporated those elements into our band. It really helped us grow and gain more confidence, and from that experience we realized we needed to get more serious and really focus on creating great music.”
Jetstream draws inspiration from two bands, the Stone Temple Pilots and Rose Hill Drive. This past summer, Jetstream went on tour with the Stone Temple Pilots and performed as the opening act for the band’s shows. The group played for several sold out concerts, and the boys
ultimately filmed a documentary of their experience. Through the documentary, Jetstream hopes to show its fans what it takes to become a successful rock band.
“Our favorite performance was in Austin, Texas,” said Zelico. “During this specific performance, we were able to share the feeling of excitement and really connect with our audience on a whole new level.”
Along with many long-term goals, the current focus of the band is to create their first record, which will be produced by Stone Temple Pilot band member Robert DeLeo. With enthusiasm and perseverance as their greatest assets, Zeile, Zelico and Grimmett will continue to astound audiences and leave behind a rock ‘n roll legacy.
To watch Jetstream’s documentary visit www.facebook.com/
