Trace, a local band which includes two University of Memphis students, is a few fan votes away in the Zippo Hot Tour from catching fire and turning a passion into a profession.
The Zippo Hot Tour, a tour that allows fans to pick the band, is now in its fourth and final round. After weeks of competing with other rockers from around the country, Trace is among the 10 finalists.
The competition started in September and Trace competed with about 2,800 other bands in hopes of making it to the next round.
About 150 to 200 bands were then selected to represent 10 cities nationwide.
Anyone could log on to the Web site and vote for the band of their choice, pushing them into the second round.
Trace was one of eight bands representing Memphis to make it to the next round. The eight bands in each of the 10 cities rocked out for four weekends at local venues - Memphis used the legendary Hard Rock Cafe and New Daisy for the battle of the bands weekends.
Once the battles ended, listeners once again voted for their favorite. Trace won for the Memphis area.
Now, Trace is competing in the final round against the other nine bands that won for their cities.
Trace consists of five members: Jonathan "Stump" Sterling on lead vocals, Brad Phelan on bass guitar, Austin Sterling on drums, David Lovelace on guitar and Deejay Maintain, on "turn tableism."
Trace heard about the Zippo Hot Tour through radio ads.
"We signed up because we heard they had cool prizes, and it only cost $10," said Jonathan "Stump" Sterling, Trace lead vocalist.
The winning band will be awarded $55,000 worth of equipment from various sponsors, an all-expenses-paid trip to Hollywood to showcase for Capitol Records and the opening act for The All-American Rejects.
Trace is also competing in a local music video contest at The Peabody Place on Oct. 22 at 9:30 p.m.
Phelan, Trace bass guitarist, directed the bands music video himself. Trace was one of 60 entries chosen to participate in the video showcase.
Trace portrays their sound as edgy rock with D.J. assistance, which gives the band not only hard-rock appeal, but also technical abilities. Sterling said Trace is like a heavier Linkin Park.
"Our band has been around a long time, but this version has been together for about three years," Stump said. "We play at any club that pertains to rock music - Hard Rock Cafe, Newby's, places like that."
With all members of the band working and three attending school full time, juggling rehearsal and school is usually a stressful task.
First, the band analyzes their school schedules and then their work schedules.
"School schedules are more important to work around because our bosses are pretty flexible and will work with us," Sterling said.
Once they have found a common time to practice, they rent out a room at Strings-n-Things and practice for three hours a day, four days a week.
All of the bands in the competition have played their sets and are now awaiting the final results, but their fate rests in the public's hands. Online voting is the only way Trace, or any other band, will win. Log on to www.zippohottour.com and cast your vote.
