Big Green Sofa has made an open-ended promise to its fans: "We'll be the best moment of your life."

Is that a risky guarantee? Yes. Is the band up for the challenge? Absolutely, and its got a track record to prove it.

Thus far, the pop punk quartet from Milwaukee's south side has already performed at the pre- and post-game party for a Milwaukee Wave game at the U.S. Cellular Arena, been selected for Time Warner Cable's 2006 People's Choice Award and scored gigs with some of Milwaukee's most prominent bands, namely Maritime and New Sense.

"We actually just met the guys from New Sense at their Summerfest gig (two) weeks ago," says bassist Derek Mlaker, who, along with his bandmates, is preparing to open for New Sense and Maritime at the Miramar Theater on Friday, Aug. 11. "They're cool guys and it'll be a really fun and interesting show."

With such high prospects and a sound that fits somewhere between the Warped Tour and the soundtrack to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, a record deal would be the ultimate dream for the band. At this point, however, graduation is looking like a goal a bit more attainable.

That's right; they're still in high school.

At age 18, Nick Morales (drums) is the eldest of the bunch, with Zach Schalba (guitar/vocals) -- the only original member from the band's beginnings in '02 -- not far behind. Derek Mlaker (bass/synth) is 17, and Jared Palkowski (guitar/bass) fills the role as youngest at the tender age of 15.

With the possible exception of not being able to buy a beer at some of the venues they play, the guys can't find a down side to being so young and agree that the age thing hasn't affected their ability to compete for play time in this town.

"Well, Milwaukee is known for its cover bands, but we believe it is developing a scene of its own," says Mlaker, 17. "Whether it's legion halls or real venues like Mad Planet, it is getting easier and easier to get a show here as a young and original band."

Still, in a competitive rock 'n' roll market, originality is definitely the operative word. Although the band could easily slip into the ever-expanding category of rock in which now ambiguous terms like "emo" and "alternative" are listlessly strewn about and from which innumerable bands are generating music, Big Green Sofa keeps itself ahead of the curve by simply not worrying about which genre it's filed under.

"I think the music speaks for itself. Some bands are so caught up in keeping their music in one genre that it winds up sounding all the same," says Mlaker. "I say, just create music that you can feel and relate to. That there is what I believe defines true music."

So come feel it for yourself. Big Green Sofa joins the rock ranks of The Actual, Attention (ex-The Stereo), and Milwaukee bands Molitor and Drive By Alibi at an all ages show at the Shorewood Legion Hall on Sunday, July 23 at 5 p.m. A mere $7 gets you five bands and an entire evening's worth of music. How can you beat that?

7 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Aug. 5, 2006 at 2:24 p.m. (report)

drive thru said: yeah very unoriginal.....almost stolen...8675309?...yeah kinda similar to your song guys

Posted by OMCreader on July 22, 2006 at 5:09 p.m. (report)

FUMKE said: Talented but unoriginal.

Posted by OMCreader on July 22, 2006 at 6:34 a.m. (report)

why bother? said: why bother with them!? theres so many more well deserving bands out there!!!! look at milwaukees teen scene...we dont need pop punk we need originality

Posted by OMCreader on July 21, 2006 at 9:55 p.m. (report)

Arthur the rocker said: BGS9big green sofa) rox my sox!! they r all so hawt i wanna party with them all the time KEpping making the sweet tunes do0ds!!

Posted by OMCreader on July 20, 2006 at 4:02 p.m. (report)

eaglescout said: saw these guys on the battle of bands on "wisconsin on demand". fun stuff. and i'm glad hacksaw is ok with his nickname.