Next Gen Riot Grrrls: Jim Chambers Music Box prepares young musicians for the stage

In a cozy rehearsal room tucked at the rear of a commercial space in an unassuming Carrollwood shopping plaza, four young riot-grrls-in-the-making are working their way toward a 45-minute setlist, notes-deep in the howling rock-out of The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter.”

Lead singer Casey Banales, 15, is confident yet coy in knee socks and flouncy circle skirt, her vocals robust with a slight husk, her long blond hair tucked beneath a floppy hat. Curly-haired 16-year-old Caitlin McHale, in tight ripped jeans and tee, plucks a stoic-faced low-end to the wryer smiles of Devyn Dacus, 15, the self-proclaimed emo girl in glasses who lays down guitar riffs and the occasional practiced solos, and trades tentative back-up vocals with Caitlin. Fourteen-year-old Annabella Vivero, aka Bellz, diminutive in size but impressive in rhythmic power and animated drum-play, supports all three with pounding toms and crashing cymbals as her ponytail bounces and oversize tank flutters, expressions ranging from focused scrunch to ecstatic grin.

Meet Extra Celestial, one of the promising young rock groups formed and shaped at performance-based music academy Jim Chambers Music Box. “The goal of most people taking lessons here, is to perform. Whether it be rock ‘n’ roll or a piano recital, the goal is to give that gift back,” explained Chambers, a “40something” recording industry veteran who opened the school last summer.

His love of riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile is reflected in Extra Celestial, whom he’s been spreading the word about ever since their concert debut at Skipper’s Smokehouse in September. Between that gig and the one they headline at Skipper’s this Friday night with three other JCMB bands, the girls have had more time to play together (at regular Box practices and other shows they’ve lined up since that first showcase), and their naturally growing friendships and easy camaraderie only improves their on-stage accord.

Chambers can’t gush hard enough. “They’re young, they’re vibrant, they perform really well, they sing well, they’re accomplished musicians, and the oldest one is 16. The drummer is 14!”

JCMB offers straightforward instruction in guitar, bass, piano, voice, ukulele and violin, with a special focus on drums. A highlight is its unique rock school-styled Band Formation program, geared at nurturing the next generation of local players. The six-week course starts when Chambers assembles a group of students at the same ability level and holds a rehearsal. “First one’s on the house, because I can’t guarantee everyone is going to like each other. But most of the time they gel just fine.”

The group agrees on four or five simple songs to play — Beatles and Nirvana covers are typical — and then get to practicing for a few hours. Afterwards, they meet with Chambers to pick a band name and settle on four more songs to learn. Instagram and Facebook pages follow, as does a photo shoot. “We cover all the bases, from publicity to the proper press release — the 101 of how to really be in a band that has some marketing savvy. That comes from my background.”

Chambers handled various facets of A&R, sales, marketing, and band management and development from the early ’90s through the late ’00s for SONY/BMG, Hybrid/Sire and Octone Records, among others; he’s worked with the likes of Tool, Outkast, Guster, Loudon Wainwright and Maroon 5. He saw some great successes (Maroon 5 garnered two Grammys during his tenure with the group), but by 2009 the industry was imploding and a cycle of layoffs prompted him to re-think his future. He retreated to Carrollwood to live with his folks and started teaching group drum classes at Carrollwood Cultural Center, which segued to private lessons with a few dozen students at his folks’ home. Then, some investors came knocking and helped him open Jim Chambers Percussion Party, “a big cool home like Hogwarts, but a music school” situated in a subdivision and attracting upwards of 80 students — until the Homeowners Association stepped in. He had to come up with a new plan, and fast. After some soul-searching, he turned to Kickstarter for help. “I Hail Mary’ed a fund-raising campaign, a crowd-sourcing campaign, and it worked! I raised $20,000, and opened this place.”

You can tell he put considerable time and thought into its design. It doesn’t feel like a music school, but a rad after-school hangout, its living room-style waiting area scattered with retro-mod furniture, shag throw rugs, funky-fresh lighting, and walls painted in bright blocks of yellow, blue, red and orange.

All the “classrooms” have an equally relaxed vibe, especially the performance room where students are made into bands, its slight dais lit in colored hues, situated beneath a glittering disco ball and facing a spread of sofas. That’s where teachers coach and offer suggestions, parents witness the growth of their kids’ abilities — and the kids get used to playing in front of an “audience.” The Band Formation program culminates in two concert showcases: the first to get their feet wet, and the second to improve upon any mistakes from the first and really rock out.

The program doesn’t have to end when the last showcase is over, however; student bands continue their education in six-week increments, not only receiving further training and performing opportunities, but the option of recording and producing music.

“We encourage them to write original songs from day one. And all of our shows are free and all ages, but we ‘pass the hat’ and collect dough, and all the bands split the money at the end, and use it to go in the studio,” Chambers said. “At the end of the day, we’ll have 400, 500 bucks split three ways, everybody gets 150 bucks, and after 12 weeks, you’ve got money to go into the studio.”

Booking a venue for the showcases proved tricky at first — a concert of all underage players from a music academy was a hard sell. But Chambers quickly established the draw potential; these same players could guarantee 60 or more ticket sales from among the dozen proud families and excited school-age friends eager to come out and support them. After bringing 125 people to New World and double that amount to Skipper’s (both on Sunday evenings), navigating the scene has proven easier — and securing a Friday night slot at the Skipperdome achievable.

Drums are still a significant component of JCMB, as evidenced in Chambers’s bi-annual Sam Ash Drum Bash, a contest for his drum students he’s likened to his personal Super Bowl, with celebrity judges and $2k in prizes. But spreading wisdom remains his favorite part of the job.

“Teaching music to a young person will rock your core. You see the lights go on when a little kid’s playing ‘Back in Black,’ and it’s like, holy moly, I connected with that kid and he’ll never forget it. Ever. He’ll hear that when he’s 31 and he’ll think of the Box.” 

This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2016.