First to Eleven won the Tri-C High School Rock Off at the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame in Cleveland in 2015 and claimed a second win in 2016, a feat
accomplished only one other time in the 20-year history of the Rock Off.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in
2015 and then followed that up with a second
win in 2016, a feat accomplished only one
other time in the 20-year history of the
Rock Off.
They describe their sound as primarily
alternative rock with a mix of other sub
genres, including pop.
Miller started singing when she was eight.
Sweet and petite, she has a voice that makes
you stop and listen. It comes so naturally to
her that it seems effortless. It’s strong and
commanding and lends the perfect counter
to the band’s rock sound. For the Rock Off
she tackled Adele impressively, showing the
confidence she has.
Charlie Root says, “I was nine when I first
got my Jr. Ludwig
set. I was in third
grade and for a
writing assignment
we had to say what
our dream was and
I said, ‘I want to be
a rock star, ride
in a limo and play
drums upside
down.’ That is still
my dream today.”
Bo Root started
playing guitar
when he was 10.
“I was watching
a video of Jimi
Hendrix playing
the guitar and
ripping a solo and
I thought, ‘I want
to be like him
one day,’ and that
prompted me to
take lessons
at World of Music,” says Root.
Tucker also started playing at age 10. He
grew up next door to Charlie and Bo and
wanted in on the rock band so he started
taking lessons and found he had an affinity
for the bass.
Although Guitar Hero
was his inspiration, Yost
picked up a real guitar
at the age of eight. His
dream venue is Wembley
Stadium in London.
“Simply because it’s Wembley! All the
greatest have played there,” says Yost.
The five members have built up quite a
following in the area, especially with the high
school and middle school age kids, and they
have a fan page on Facebook started by their
biggest fan.
“A dad and his son at Creamland came
up to us. He said his son decided to play the
drums because of us,” says Bo Root. “Another
time a little girl came up and gave her phone
number to me and Charlie.”
Earlier this year M4 ran
into copyright problems
with a DJ based in
Australia who already laid
claim to the name.
When the copyright
issues arose, they turned
to their favorite band activity outside of
playing music, volleybonk, for their new
name. It’s a made-up game that is a hybrid of
volleyball and tennis.
The winner of volleybonk is the first player
to get 11 points and they used that idea as the
basis of the new band name, First to Eleven. It
seems fitting since they obviously know how
to win.
In January, the band packed up and headed
to Detroit to record five original songs to be
released as an EP (extended play) at Metro 37
Studios in Detroit with producer Nick Scott.
They rented a house and all lived together
while recording. Parents of the band rotated
chaperone duty and took turns staying at the
Detroit house.
“Our parents are our biggest fans and
behind us 200 percent. They are very
supportive,” says Bo Root whose parents own
the Swan Tavern on West Lake Road and
allow the band to use the location as rehearsal
space.
First to Eleven might tease and rip on each
other and occasionally disagree, but they all
agree on one thing: performing live on stage is
the best part of it all.
The quintet has a stellar summer lineup
playing most of Erie’s major events like
Celebrate Erie, Roar on the Shore, and the
Seawolves block party plus an appearance on
the Vans Warped Tour. So, if you can, check
them out this summer and don’t forget the
new EP “Out of Time,” available on iTunes. n
Millcreek | Summer 2016 | icmags.com 51