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Health & Fitness

Local Band Modern Insurgency to Release First Album: 'Capricorn'

MI, a band comprised of five Sewickley teenagers, write their own songs and plan on selling their first album as a CD and on iTunes on Nov. 12, 2011.

Sewickley's own Modern Insurgency, a band comprised of four students and one CAPA student, will be releasing their first original album, "Capricorn," on Nov. 12.

In case you were curious as to how a group of kids get to this point, they began the way all teenage bands make their start -- by jamming together in someone's garage on weekend nights, either to the disgruntlement or full encouragement of their parents. 

This band's story doesn't end there. They've moved out of garages and basements, and now write original songs and record them in a desanctified church in Leetsdale. They have played at places like the Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh, the celebration in Henle Park, and Little Italy Days in Bloomfield, as well as other school and community events. 

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In the summer of 2008, a friend made the suggestion at a birthday party that because these four talked about music so much and played instruments, it would make sense to start a band. Enter Rocco Brown, Johnathan Roppo, Luke Torrance and Lex Simakas, and Modern Insurgency was born.

In November of 2009, they completed their group with drummer Jack Marcrum. They went on to write their first single, "Solstice," which was released on the day of the solstice--December 21, 2010.  

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Roppo, vocalist and lead guitarist, said the idea for the album was hatched not long afterwards, and spent this past summer recording in the bathroom of the church. 

As far as inspiration for the title, they decided to stick with their star-aligning theme. " I noticed that the lyrical themes of the songs all tied together quite nicely," Torrance, who plays bass, said. "That's why it's called Capricorn, because that is the time period that begins on the winter solstice." 

"Life can drive you crazy, but there's always an end in sight, or an 'Orange,'" Roppo says about the album's overall message, referencing one of their song titles. 

The album consists of seven songs, recorded in the church and mastered by John Rogers Big Label Sound Studio in California to give it a quality that people will appreciate. 

As if this attention to detail wasn't enough, the group already has plans for the future. 

"We already have several songs that are unfinished but will be finished soon. I'd like to plow through them and try to record another album sometime next year," Torrance said. 

But for right now, they are trying to bask in their own glory. 

"We're excited for the album and the show," Roppo said. "It's our project, and the force behind it is the five of us." 

Their next show will be Nov. 12th, the day their album is released. The band will host a party for the album at the church, 200 Broad St., where they practice. Attendees will get a copy of the album and see a live concert for $5.

For more information on this event, visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=286524994705036

If you'd like to book Modern Insurgency, visit their Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/ModernInsurgency, or check them out on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/ModernInsurgency

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