Room 19

Artist Information

Biography

Room 19 is a classic rock band, in the tradition of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and The Beatles with a decidedly blues influence. Comprised of Bay Area teens Ben Yasemsky (lead guitar and vocals), Adam Lang (guitar and vocals), Graeme Greenwood (bass guitar), and Ben Zell (drums), the band has evolved over three years playing together into a sophisticated group with a unique sound of their own. Original music, conceived through the collaborative process of music-making, is at the heart of their performances. Most recently, Room 19 played to enthusiastic audiences this fall at the Berkeley/Albany Solano Stroll and at the El Sobrante Stroll, rocked the East Bay Express festival in Oakland's Jack London Square, and helped raise funds to build a school in Haiti by performing at the Mill Valley Rock the Rebuild fest. The band placed third amongst 10 high school bands in an exciting San Francisco Battle of the Bands, were featured performers at the El Cerrito High School new theatre, and have performed several times at Ashkenaz in Berkeley as an elite Bandworks Pro band . They are now booked for several more gigs and private parties around the Bay Area including a return engagement at The Arlington restaurant in Kensington. Check Calendar for more information about shows and venues.

Instrumentation

Ben Yasemsky (lead guitar and vocals), Adam Lang(guitar and vocals), Graeme Greenwood (bass guitar), and Ben Zell (drums.)

Discography

Room 19 plays classic rock and blues covers as well as original songs. They are currently recording a 5 song CD including three originals: "Sailin' On"; "I Knew;" and their latest "Apathy."

Links

• VIDEO Battle of the Bands
• VIDEO Youth Rock the Rebuild Festival 5/30/10
• VIDEO Portola Jazz Explosion
• VIDEO Little Wing
• VIDEO Sailin' On Original Song

Audio

• Sailin' On
  Listen   Download
• I Knew
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Sailin On
• Apathy
• I knew

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Room 19 plays at the Best of the East Bay Party!!!! [+ Show ]
  

  Best of the East Bay 2010 June 22, 2010 by eastbayexpress On August 6, the East Bay Express cele...Best of the East Bay 2010
  June 22, 2010 by eastbayexpress
  
  On August 6, the East Bay Express celebrates its winners of the 2010 Best of the East Bay readers’ poll and editors’ picks all along the Jack London Square waterfront. Over 20,000 guests are expected to attend and salute the best ideas, products and services that are borne out of the East Bay region.
  
  This year’s Best of the East Bay Party main stage (sponsored by Amoeba Music) will feature twelve rocking bands including: The Mighty Underdogs, Everything Must Go, Finish Ticket, Zydeco Flames, The Memphis Murder Men, Belle Monroe and her Brewglass Boys, Kit + the Branded Men, Bang Data, Birds and Batteries, Stone Foxes, Cheetahs on the Moon and Fans of Jimmy Century.
  
  Make sure to spend some time lounging in the Blues Pavilion (sponsored by the Bay Area Blues Society), where the Express pays tribute to the venerable blues history of Russell City in Hayward and 7th Street in West Oakland with performances by some of the best blues musicians in the East Bay. Big Cat Tollfree, Zakiya Hooker Blues 4 U, and the Russell City Memorial Blues Band are just a few of the Blues greats gracing the stage.
  
  The Chabot Space & Science Center’s Kids’ Party Zone (sponsored by BandWorks and Bay Area Girls Rock Camp) will feature local kid bands The Vat and Room 19. Performances are by members of the Bay Area Girls Rock Camp. The Kids’ Party Zone will also offer hands-on science projects and fun activities.
  
  The event will be topped off with a Dance Battle (sponsored by Yak Films and The People), dance performances, extreme sports, live art demonstrations, indie designer villages, and local restaurant vendors. It’s sure to be the region’s best party of the year.
  
  When: Friday, August 6, 2010
  
  Where: Jack London Square waterfront
  
  Time: 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  
  Admission: Free
  
  Attendance: All Ages
  
  Getting there: BART (Lake Merritt or 12th Street stations), AC Transit, Alameda-Oakland Ferry, Broadway Shuttle, Amtrak.
  Free bike valet parking provided by the East Bay Bike Coalition.
  
  Fundraising: All proceeds from the bar will benefit the OneCalifornia Foundation
  
  For more details and ongoing updates, please visit www.EastBayExpress.com/BOEBParty
  
  

• Recent Gigs by Bandworks Pro Groups [+ Show ]
  

  BandWorks Community News- Room 19 (BandWorks Pro Band with Ben Yasemsky, Adam Lang, Graeme Greenwoo...BandWorks Community News-
  Room 19 (BandWorks Pro Band with Ben Yasemsky, Adam Lang, Graeme Greenwood, and Ben Zell) had two recent gigs: the Portola Jazz Explosion on April 1 and the El Cerrito High Talent Show on April 2. Both gigs went very well with a strong audience response. They won second place in the El Cerrito High Talent Show ... very impressive for middle school kids!
  

• Concert at Boys and Girls Club of El Sobrante [+ Show ]
  

  Room 19 Performance, Boys and Girls Club of El Sobrante Thank you for your outstanding performanc...Room 19 Performance, Boys and Girls Club of El Sobrante
  
  Thank you for your outstanding performance on May 14th for the children and
  staff at our After-School Program
  We enjoyed your music and professionalism.
  
  Best wishes for a successful future and your dedication and love of music will,
  without any doubt, lead you to achieve your goals.
  
  We look forward to working with you again
  
  Sincerely,
  Marie Carayanis
  Volunteer Director
  

• Battle of the Bands May 8th San Francisco [+ Show ]
  

  “People here are still talking about Room 19’s performance at the annual GenSF Battle of the Bands. ...“People here are still talking about Room 19’s performance at the annual GenSF Battle of the Bands. Coming in third place, they left the night with countless fans of their soulful, accomplished retro rock – including me!"
  
  Alan Scher
  Teen Program Manager
  Jewish Community Center of San Francisco

• Congregation Netivot Shalom
  

  "Just listened to "I Knew"-they're amazing!!"

• Room 19 Participates in Efforts to Rebuild School in Haiti [+ Show ]
  

  Rocking the town for Haiti Efforts to rebuild Haiti are barely underway, as the poverty-stricken ...Rocking the town for Haiti
  
  Efforts to rebuild Haiti are barely underway, as the poverty-stricken region struggles back from a catastrophic earthquake earlier this year. A quarter of a million people lost their lives and nearly a million made homeless. Homes, businesses and civic buildings, including most of the schools in the area, collapsed.
  
  In Marin, a group of youth musicians have answered the call to help.
  
  The project called Youth Rock The Rebuild, is holding a series of concert fundraisers to help fund new shelter and schools in Haiti. Their first concert, held at the end of January, played to a sold-out crowd at the Masonic Temple in Mill Valley. They managed to raise $11,000 in donations.
  
  Now, the group has organized a second concert scheduled for May 30, also in Mill Valley. Funds raised will go to an organization called Students Rebuild which is part of Architecture for Humanity. Over ten bands and dozens of musicians will play in Mill Valley Plaza
  One of those musicians is Miller Klitsner, who along with fellow band-mates, Zev Shearn-Nance and Jackson Miller , form the Mello Miller band. Klitsner, a 14-year-old bass guitar player is an 8th grader at Marin Horizon School and has been giving back to the community for some time. For the past two years, he and Shearn-Nance have raised thousands for for local school projects through rock fundraisers. This year they wanted to do the same for Haiti.
  
  "It's really amazing to see how many people and groups have gotten involved," said Klitsner, "Maybe Rock and Roll really can heal the world."
  
  Other performers include Third Rock, Vote for Pedro, Room 19 and songwriter-guitarist Matt Jaffe (photo at left), who has been previously profiled in MoreMarin.
  
  The music begins at in the plaza at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. with strolling musicians. That will be followed by an amplified concert in the plaza from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Funds raised will be matched up to $2,500 per donation by the Bezos Family Foundation. A third concert is also planned for September 19.
  
  There will be free admission to the May 30 event but please donate to the cause!!
  
  

• Room 19 Review, private party performance [+ Show ]
  

  "These young guys are proof that the flame of rock-n-rock has been successfully passed to the next g..."These young guys are proof that the flame of rock-n-rock has been successfully passed to the next generation. I expect they will make it hotter!" Jack Thrift - Chairman, Moody Premium Guitar Straps

• The Arlington Restaurant, Kensington CA [+ Show ]
  

  "Great night and thanks! Look forward to the fall when the boys can play again!"- Trish McDermott, O..."Great night and thanks! Look forward to the fall when the boys can play again!"- Trish McDermott, Owner, The Arlington Restaurant, Kensington, CA

Setlist

Room 19 currently has 6 original tunes that include:

Sailin' On
I Knew
What I'd Do
Be My Girl
Jackpot
Apathy

Amongst others, covers include:

Jimi Hendrix-
Fire
Manic Depression
Little Wing
Red House
Bold as Love
Hey Joe
Wait Until Tomorrow
& inspired by Jimi, Room 19's version of The Star Spangled Banner

Bob Dylan-
inspired by Eric Clapton-Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Life Without You by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Led Boots by Jeff Beck

Baba O'Riley by The Who

Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses

John Mayer-
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
Gravity

Basic Requirements

Calendar