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By Crystal Fulara

The band may be called Slow Children Playing, but these guys are anything but slow.

They are intelligent, and two of the members are in accelerated classes. Also, their music is fast paced, and although they have a versatile sound, they are mainly a punk rock/alternative band. The loud tunes are definitely something most teenagers like to listen to.

Their current sounds include some from Weezer, Blink 182, Green Day, Collective Soul, Blur, Offspring, Nada, Bush, Silverchair and Lit. Even a less-than-avid alternative listener would find these songs recognizable and find themselves getting into their music.

Guitarist and singer Jeremy Turinetti said, "If we're excited about it, then the fans will be excited about it. It's all about the fans."

The band consists of three other 17-year-olds. Rhythm guitar player and lead singer is Eric Magnuson. Drummer Marc Zeglis sets the beat. Jarrod Halberg is on bass.

As a group they have played a few parties and at the Juice Bar in LaSalle. They will be playing at the Depue fireworks for the Fourth of July.

While staying together is a problem for a lot of bands, these musicians say it won't be a problem for them.

"There are not individuals in a band," Magnuson said.

Turinetti and Magnuson have been friends since their freshman year in high school, and Zeglis and Halberg said they have been best friends for a long time. The four got together when Magnuson and Turinetti met in their musical theatre class at Hall High School.

Once they got together, what groups inspired them? Green Day and Blink 182, mostly. Green Day was a main inspiration because they play their own instruments and they hold their own in the group.

Magnuson said he like Green Day because "they weren't very good at first, but they kept at it, and now they are excellent."

Individually, they have different reasons for loving music.

Turinetti's said he got started in music because his father was in a band called the Del-Rays. Turinetti took guitar lessons for a year and then taught himself. He says he loves playing because "you can put creativity in your music." The other members of the band say he has the most talent in the group.

Zeglis took four years of drum lessons, starting because his parents put him in the lessons, but he ended up loving it. His father was in a band named S.O.B or Shades of Blue.

Described as "quiet but essential," Zeglis is the one who keeps the other members in line.

Halberg, who started with the guitar, probably because that's what his father played, switched to the bass. He's described as the crazy one of the group.

Magnuson says got his start in music when he saw an old guitar in a dumpster. He decided to get it fixed up and he ended up playing. He says his school janitor Tim Manaham, who ended up being Magnuson's inspiration to play, aided him.

"It's like the best feeling when you know you first song," he explained.

The other members of the band agreed, with one explaining that "when you put those chords together and you have your first song, it's like 'Wow, I'm making music.'"

Magnuson, the most talkative and most openly passionate about what he does, said, "Music is everything to me. Through music I found something I'm really good it. It I could not do music, I'd be crushed."

What do they see in the future?

They all would like to cut a record deal, with Turinetti adding that they don't want to be a "one-hit wonder."

They all plan on going to college, but hope music will always be in their lives.

IVCC student Denise Ramos said "They know what they're doing and they're good at it."