Behind Mr. Byrne are singers Chris Cosgrove and Dave Richardson, who is also pounding away on the bongos. On nights after the band practices, Leslie Byrne, Mr. Byrne's mom, wends her way through the densely packed bulk of amplifiers and keyboards to the china cabinets on the far walls. There, she pushes crystal figurines several inches back against the wall from which they tend to migrate. They're part of this great little scene that's developing between Baltimore and Annapolis. They've been invited to play more private parties and bars than they have in the past, and they anticipate even greater exposure after today's show.
Chances are, they're on the right track.
It's also a good opportunity to meet other bands who can take you on tour. Other local HFStival alumni like Jimmy's Chicken Shack and Good Charlotte also have seen their fortunes soar after the show. They've gone where we want to go. Make no mistake, this isn't the Billboard bubblegum of the Backstreet Boys. From their iconoclastic lyrics about racism and the music industry to their stubbly goatees, the young men in Jepetto don't plan to be anyone's puppets.