http://www.myspace.com/peachesnocream
----------------- Original Message -----------------

Date: Oct 3, 2007 4:25 PM


It might be October, it might not be. I really can't remember right now. I forgot when and where I was when a blinding wall of rock and roll entered my head and began playing double-dutch on my eardrums. I drift aimlessly through the growing crowd, attempting to find the source of this overwhelming auditory delight. As my eyes wander through the backs of heads, itching to get a glimpse of the band before me, I find a gap in the crowd that reveals an unbelievable sight.
    
 The drumming I'm hearing, which bear a striking resemblance to Meg White's heavily accented bass beats, are being played vigorously by a long haired boy named Sawyer wearing a Def Leppard tee and classic aviators. The singer Holly, a peanut sized girl with irresistible stage presence, has the raspy overtones of a 30 year old chronic smoker --in the best way possible, of course. The bass is played effortlessly, by another strikingly young looking woman named Emma. And finally, the extraordinary lead guitar resonates from a young man named Evan, who is totally lost in the music on the far left of the stage.
   
 "Impossible," I automatically conclude. Normal children this age cannot possibly possess the proper auditory training or sheer talent to create such ripping compilations. And even if they did, it would be darn near impossible for them to get up in front of a group of college students and adults and play with this much power and self-assurance. But, as I quickly learned from parents and fans alike, Jet Fuel Only is not your standard group of middle school musicians.
   
 Far above even the most exceptional youngsters, Jet Fuel Only brings an entirely unthinkable aspect of young musicianship to life. Hints of Stevie Ray, The White Stripes, and Janis Joplin mix harmoniously to create a rock band that will knock even the tightest of socks right off your beat-tapping feet.

As I ask around to find out the scoop on these guys, I come to find that not a single one in the group is over the age of twelve years old. These smashing rock guitar solos and similarly fitting lyrics were written by kids who aren't even allowed to see PG-13 movies yet. But their age undoubtedly has had no bearing on the achievements of the group. They have been featured in the local Chico newspaper, The Orion, as well as the brothers Evan and Sawyer being featured in the December 2006 issue of People Magazine.
   
 Now, you may be wondering, why all the hype? Yes, they're kids. Yes, they play great music. But how do a couple of pre-teens wiggle their way into one of the top selling magazines in the nation? What I haven't mentioned yet is that the whole reason behind the band and their formation is Sawyers ostensibly undetectable diagnosis of autism. You can see the happiness radiating from him as he slams the drums in rhythm with his brother and their two friends. It's awe-inspiring to think that underneath these amazingly talented musicians, there's a story about a young man who used to seclude himself from others and even get picked on at school for being different.
   
 But they're obviously not dwelling on their past conformity issues. They've got shows lined up through the rest of October and probably will be booking beyond that. And hey, who doesn't want to be friend with a rock star? Even college students could not help but expressing their amazement and respects to these exceptional adolescents as they walked off stage. "It's really crazy," Holly confessed when I asked her how it felt to be famous.
    
Their age, as much as it does not affect their talent, is somewhat of an issue at times for booking shows. Their line up consists of many day shows and early private parties. "I don't want to take them out of too much school" says the boy's mother Julie as I question her about the band. But Sawyer turns to me sheepishly as his mother walks away proclaiming, "I got to miss 4 periods today." This, little tid-bit is followed a triumphant grin and a glance at his already smiling younger brother. "Yeah," I think "they definitely know what they're doing."
    
All in all, the band is a huge hit. Kids, college students, and parents alike could not help but get down to the fabulous choice of covers and unbelievable original work of Jet Fuel Only. My opinion after watching them perform is this: Never underestimate our children. And NEVER underestimate the potential we all possess to do something great.
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 http://www.myspace.com/peachesnocream