Distance No Problem for Up and Coming Musicians

They’re young, “refreshing,” and, though separated by more than a thousand miles, still rockin’.

The Lutz teens who make up MBL Trio, last year’s Rockus Maximus winners, are still at it, despite Michael Lindo’s move to Boston, where he now attends Berklee College of Music.

“The band and I continue to perform together when I come down for breaks or if we have a really important gig,” Lindo wrote in an email. “We just finished playing a few shows one at the Market on 7th in Ybor, The State Theatre in St. Petersburg and we played the First Night in St. Pete New Years event.”

The band, which includes Michael’s brother, Lorenzo Lindo, and Ben Kennett, both Steinbrenner High seniors, is also finishing up its new E.P. (extended play)

That should be done soon, Lindo said. “Then we will release a single while we finalize post-production.” 

The guys all have backgrounds in blues and jazz, but said they don’t subscribe to a particular genre when writing their music.

“It’s refreshing,” Lindo said in a previous interview. “We have a blues influence that you don’t hear on the radio every day.”

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The studio time at Morrissound Studios that MBL Trio won was used to record a few songs for the new E.P., Lindo said. 

“It was great working with them and we learned a lot from the experience in how we produce our music and made a few friends there. One of the interns we worked with there actually goes to Berklee, so we've been able to become good friends,” Lindo said.

The Pasco Library System's Rockus Maximus XVI is coming up in March. As a past winner, Lindo said there are plenty of reasons local bands should get involved that go beyond the cash and recording time.

“Rockus Maximus was such a great experience for us,” Lindo said. “We met so many awesome bands through Rockus Maximus that we continue play shows with today.”

The band also got video and photos from the events that they shared with their fans, he said.

“The prize money was great and allowed us to buy some new gear, but the friends we made through the competition was the best thing we gained from the experience.”

It’s not just about winning, though that’s the ultimate goal. Lindo said there’s more to it than that. For bands considering the competition, he offers this advice.

“Put your best foot forward trying to put on the best show possible and to take advantage of the opportunities it opens up.”

MBL Trio on Facebook

See also:

Pasco Invites Bands to Battle

Teens Rock a 'Refreshing' Sound

Rockin' and Rollin' at the Library