DIY. If you're a band with hopes of rock star success, you live by those three letters.
"You can't really expect anyone to help you out in the music industry. You have to do it on your own," said drummer Mark Roberge of Methuen, one of the founding members of the band Prospect Hill.
It used to be that a few catchy songs and attracting crowds in the high hundreds were enough to get you the attention of a record label.
These days, the standards are higher. Crowds must be in the thousands. Independent album sales must be in the six figures and having a long, long list of "friends" on your MySpace page is a necessity, not a luxury.
Prospect Hill (named for a section of Lawrence), so far, is doing all these things and more, by itself. This weekend, you can catch them at River City Billiards in Haverhill. On Friday, April 20, they'll be at the Sad CafÉ in Plaistow, N.H., starting at 7 p.m.
You can hear them on Boston sports radio station WEEI, which plays their music most Monday nights on "GameTime React" with JT The Brick, who often digresses from sports to talk about or play music. They've been signed up for a spot at WAAF's Locobazooka this fall. Music producer Anthony J. Resta of Chelmsford, who's worked with Duran Duran and Blondie, will collaborate with Prospect Hill on its latest album. The band also played a few dates with Powerman 5000, the punk rock group fronted by Haverhill native Spyder, the brother of Rob Zombie.
"They are booking up like crazy," said Dan Roberge, Mark's father, who manages the band. "I am denying shows every day."
Prospect Hill released its latest album, "Out of the Ashes" in September. Dan Roberge believes the new album will be out later this summer.
"They are hard workers, they really are," he said.
Prospect Hill has been together for four years, though lead singer Adam Fithian of Manchester, N.H., joined recently.
Things took off for Prospect Hill about the same time, playing 40 dates up and down the East Coast with acts like Powerman 5000.
While the band works primarily in the rock genre, its repertoire ranges from heavy metal to pop rock. They call it "metal-odic."
"We have a lot of different sounds," Mark Roberge said. "We are tight and our shows are awesome."
"You can't really expect anyone to help you out in the music industry. You have to do it on your own," said drummer Mark Roberge of Methuen, one of the founding members of the band Prospect Hill.
It used to be that a few catchy songs and attracting crowds in the high hundreds were enough to get you the attention of a record label.
These days, the standards are higher. Crowds must be in the thousands. Independent album sales must be in the six figures and having a long, long list of "friends" on your MySpace page is a necessity, not a luxury.
Prospect Hill (named for a section of Lawrence), so far, is doing all these things and more, by itself. This weekend, you can catch them at River City Billiards in Haverhill. On Friday, April 20, they'll be at the Sad CafÉ in Plaistow, N.H., starting at 7 p.m.
You can hear them on Boston sports radio station WEEI, which plays their music most Monday nights on "GameTime React" with JT The Brick, who often digresses from sports to talk about or play music. They've been signed up for a spot at WAAF's Locobazooka this fall. Music producer Anthony J. Resta of Chelmsford, who's worked with Duran Duran and Blondie, will collaborate with Prospect Hill on its latest album. The band also played a few dates with Powerman 5000, the punk rock group fronted by Haverhill native Spyder, the brother of Rob Zombie.
"They are booking up like crazy," said Dan Roberge, Mark's father, who manages the band. "I am denying shows every day."
Prospect Hill released its latest album, "Out of the Ashes" in September. Dan Roberge believes the new album will be out later this summer.
"They are hard workers, they really are," he said.
Prospect Hill has been together for four years, though lead singer Adam Fithian of Manchester, N.H., joined recently.
Things took off for Prospect Hill about the same time, playing 40 dates up and down the East Coast with acts like Powerman 5000.
While the band works primarily in the rock genre, its repertoire ranges from heavy metal to pop rock. They call it "metal-odic."
"We have a lot of different sounds," Mark Roberge said. "We are tight and our shows are awesome."
Probably the biggest showman in the group is Edgar Troncoso of Methuen, known for his colorful stage antics.
"If he wasn't doing this, he would be in the circus," Fithian said.
Sully Erna and Godsmack, the platinum-selling rock band with Merrimack Valley roots, serve as role models for Prospect Hill.
"Sully Erna, he worked his (tail) off, took over as front man, and look at him now," said Dan Roberge, who grew up with Erna in Lawrence. "I hope these kids' work pays off for them."
If you go
* What: Prospect Hill concerts
* When: Tomorrow at 10 p.m.
* Where: River City Billiards, 87 Washington St., Haverhill
* How: Cover charge $10 at the door.
