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Poway band needs online votes to win contest

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By Pat Kumpan

Sleepless Pacific, a Poway teen band, has hopes of winning the National Association of Music Merchants SchoolJam USA band contest, but needs 5,000 online votes by Nov. 30.

Their music, along with that of other contestants, will be judged by industry professionals, but public opinion also counts, according to contest officials.

To vote for this band, or any of the others, go to www.schooljamusa.com.

James Bishop, guitarist and vocalist for Sleepless Pacific, describes his group’s music as alternative rock, not “hard,” but easy to listen to.

“We’re not as loud as many teen bands — we’re pretty rhythmic,” Bishop said.

The band is composed of Bishop; Taylor Eldreth, drums; Esteban Cervantes, guitar and lyrics; and Robin Morris, bass guitar.

Cervantes attends Rancho Bernardo High School and the others are Poway High School students,

Bishop comes from a musical family; Eldreth likes to drum on anything and everything and when not drumming, runs with his school’s cross country team; Cervantes dreams of owning his own brand of guitars and would like to play the blues with John Mayer; while Morris, a classically trained musician, plays bassoon, piano and almost any other instrument, would like to travel the world and play music during the adventure.

Some of their music includes “Sleepless,” “Are You Listening,” and “Love Never Ends.”

Band members have performed at several venues, such as the Epicentre in Mira Mesa, during this year’s Battle of the Bands at Poway Valley Riders Association and during the San Diego County Fair.

To hear their songs go to facebook/sleeplesspacific, or search YouTube.

To reach the finals at Downtown Disney in Anaheim on Saturday, Jan. 21, Sleepless Pacific must be in the top eight bands in the country, based on judging and online votes.

The top band will receive $5,000 and finalists will win $1,000 each for their school band programs.

As finalists, all eight bands will also receive prize money to purchase new equipment from a registered NAMM member.

Included in the first-place winner’s package is a trip to Germany 2012 to compete at SchoolJam Germany.

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