Half Past Two

They have come a long way since their high school music talent show.

The local band known as Half Past Two is scheduled to perform at this year's Orange County Fair. The band was initially formed to play as a ska/reggae cover band at the Los Alamitos High School talent show in 2004.

At the time it featured three trumpets, two trombones, a melophone, two guitars, keyboards, a drummer a percussionist and a lead singer.

It originally went by the name of "king Otterpop and the Slushtones" and played at the Los Alamitos High School talent shows from 2004 - 2006, with current students and alumni from the high school.

"David Parris, Matt Schultz and I had previously played in a ska band called 'Free Jeff,'" said Tyler Moore, the band's lead guitarist. "That lasted from 2000 - 2003. We had played the talent show in 2002 and 2003."

In 2006, the core of King Otterpop and the Slushtones decided to forge ahead as an original ska/reggae/rock band.

However, with many of the band members leaving for college, the group was reduced in size to an eight-piece band with two trumpets, two trombones, a bass, guitar, drums and vocalist.

According to Moore, that's when they were introduced to Tara Pearce.

Pearce's sister had designed the first t-shirts for King Otterpop and the Slushtones.

With Tara as the front-woman, the band recorded a demo in the summer of 2007 and went on to record their debut recording with producer Aaron Barrett (Reel Big Fish) at Music Inc. Studios in Orange, California.

Half Past Two's sound draws primarily from Orange County based ska/rock bands such as Reel Big Fish, Seal Beach based RX Bandits, No Doubt, and the Aquabats. Individual band members, however, have tastes in music ranging from country to death metal, indie rock to experimental electronica.

"The band would love nothing more than to make a living off of music," Moore said.

Some of the members have day jobs involving music, as guitar teachers and recording studio engineers, while others find work ranging from Disneyland cast members to preschool aids and video editors.

Pearce, for example, works as one of the costumed characters behind Nickelodeon Television's critically acclaimed "Yo Gabba Gabba" series.

The band is currently working on new material they hope will take things to the next level in terms of musicianship and their career in music.

The band's future plans include a California summer tour with Norway's No Torso. In the meantime, they are converting the trombone player's garage into a makeshift studio for summer preproduction in anticipation of the r full length recording in the fall. The band will be performing locally at The Orange County Fair, The District in Tustin and the Long Beach Towne Center.

The band's achievements include air play on KROQ FM, a nomination as Alternative Band of the Year in the 2008 Orange County Music Awards, and opening slots as support for nationally touring acts at the Grove in Anaheim and the Anaheim House of Blues.

The band members said they think part of their success is the environment in which they were raised.

"I Feel like our band has been greatly influenced by growing up in this community," Moore said. - Dennis Kaiser - Editor Seal Beach Sun