Local Band Wins Battle of the Bands

ImpulseControl , a local Shoreline band, was declared the winner of the first round of competition on September 6 at Toad's Place in New Haven .

Impulse Control was started when the 5 band members met and played together at the Madison School of Rock. The band started playing gigs around the shoreline and Connecticut this past summer, and has played several times at Bill’s Seafood. The band members are Sammi Distefano, 17, of Madison on Vocals , Josh Zubee , 15, of Westbrook, on Guitar , Mitch Yaggi , 14, of Guilford on Bass , Ryan Shea, 14, of Madison, and Dillon Sallisky , 17, Guitar, from Thomaston, CT.

Sammi is a Student at Daniel Hand and also ECA (Educational Center for the Arts ) and is a classically trained singer. Josh Zubee has been playing guitar for several years and also is a drummer in the Westbrook High School Orchestra. Ryan Shea has been playing drums for 6 years.

Mitch Yaggi has been playing bass for three plus years and attends Guilford High School . Dillon has also been playing for several years.

All have been attending School of Rock for several years and credit their instructors at the school with helping to hone their musical skills, and confidence. Mike Molyneaux, Music Director at Madison SOR , said ‘ We are very proud of all the kids . We feel that playing music and being on stage are really the best teachers.’

The Band is going into the second round and Final Battle of the Bands, which will be held November 1st, at Toad’s Place in New Haven. Toad’s Place, a famous venue in Connecticut, is known for many famous bands coming into the venue to play or kick off national tours. The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Bob Dylan and many others have played their famous stage.

Sammi Distefano commented: ‘We were just thrilled to get the gig at Toad’s, we never expected that we would win. We are even more excited to go back and compete again.’

If the band wins this final battle, they will have the opportunity to open for a National Act on stage at Toad’s place, as well as the bragging rights.

Pamela Cianci, Sammi’s Mom, said ‘Wherever the kids go they are very well received. I think people are so shocked when they hear them play, that they sound so great and are so professional .'

Tracey Sallisky, Dillion’s Mom, commented 'We get a lot of people coming up to them at shows saying they cannot believe how good they are at their age!’ ‘It has been wonderful to see them do so well.’

Discount passes for the event can be found at the Madison School of Rock.

The band is available for gigs by booking on the Facebook page, ImpulseControlCT, and also by emailing ImpulsecontrolCT@gmail.com.