Hitting the right notes: junior to perform at Lakers game

On October 25, 2014, as junior Brennen Bates walked up to the stage for the Long Beach Nerium Convention, 15,000 people cheered on his alternative-rock band Signal City. Even with the large crowd, Bates felt confident and excited to play with his band.

Bates will relive this moment once again on March 15 at the Staples Center, where he will perform the National Anthem with his band at the Los Angeles Lakers game. After he was invited to a band call through Facebook, Bates auditioned for bass player and landed the part. Currently, Bates plays bass guitar and backup vocals in his band.

“I felt really excited and surprised that we were able to receive such an awesome opportunity,” Bates said.

His interest in music sparked when he began playing piano at age 5. He eventually taught himself how to write music and play the bass.

Signal City is not a new band. Before they were Signal City, they were called Above Seclusion. Like many bands, the group went through changes in lineup and style.

“Even before I joined the band the band went through five or six lineup changes,” Bates said. “We have become more indie-pop instead of just straight alternative rock. We have matured a lot.”

Although the group is not currently signed to a label, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group are interested in contracting the band. If the band is signed, they may receive opportunities to tour.

Bates was not confident when he first started out in the band. He initially thought that the band would not gain much acclaim, but recent opportunities and events have shown that Signal City has potential.

“When it first started it was more of a garage band, just playing for family and friends,” Bates said. Attempts to tour and recording sessions gave hope for his band’s future.

With financial support from a member’s parent, the band has had enough money to obtain recording time in studios and put together extended plays and albums. While recording at their Torrance studio, Signal City had the opportunity to meet Simon Katz, an experienced music producer with connections which helped the band.

Bates believes that connections, kindness, luck and talent have played a large role in the band’s success. Bates hopes to carry on with a career in the music industry and wants to share his music with people that enjoy it.

“It sounds cliché, but in a sense we want to be rock stars. We want to headline our own world tours, have people enjoy our music and just make a living out of what we love,” Bates said.