Local Camarillo band Par5 rocks the stage
Local Ventura County band Par5, made up of juniors Darwin Rowland (NPHS), Jeffrey Saner (NPHS), Sawyer Talent (RCHS) and Kaleb Manlutac (RCHS), has taken fans by storm with their stage presence and songwriting. Despite starting less than a year ago, Par5 has brought numerous performances to the Ventura County stages, making a notable breakthrough into the spotlight with their six original songs.
Rowland, the lead singer and bass player for Par5, began his musical journey playing piano at 5-years-old, and only got into the band’s signature punk Rock N’ Roll style a few years ago. “It’s a different kind of feeling writing our own songs with people I’ve known my entire life,” Rowland said. Rowland plays a large role in the band, writing lyrics and planning shows.
Saner, the band’s drummer, began drumming in second grade but his passion took off during the pandemic. “I could not stop tapping on things in quarantine. Darwin introduced me to ‘Mötley Crüe’ and ‘Van Halen,’ and I started listening to them nonstop, and that inspired me to play those songs,” Saner said.
The band’s lead guitarist, Talent’s musical interest came from his aunt, who is in a band herself. “She gave me one of her first guitars, and it was this 30-year-old Stratocaster […] the guitar started collecting dust for a while [and then] I joined a band,” Talent said.
Manlutac, the band’s rhythmic guitarist, only began playing guitar about a year ago after being inspired by his friends. “My friends all played an instrument and [were] joining bands and so I wanted to do the same so we all could play together,” Manlutac said. None of the boys regretted their decision to say yes to joining the band and none have looked back since.
Being a high schooler and a member of an active band is a unique experience for these teens, as they transition from students during the week into rockstars over the weekend. “These are memories that we’re never gonna forget. These are experiences that [we] will have for [our] entire life,” Manlutac said.
The beginning of their newest project starts with recording all of the lyrics and instrumentals for an upcoming Extended Play [EP]. All of the members are eager to encourage fans and other teenagers as well, especially Saner. “It’s really cool to get recognized [and] possibly inspire other people to form bands,” Saner said
The biggest pull for these teenagers is the energy they receive from the crowd: whether it is cheering, mosh pits, or singing along, Par5 loves the experience they get at their shows. Their close friendships coupled with the connection to the audience creates a community for the band, making it all the more enjoyable. Par5 hopes to see their following grow even more in the future, and can’t wait to have more experiences as they push themselves and each other to improve. “We’ve got time to grow and evolve and we can’t wait to see where the future takes us,” Rowland said.
