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Sonoma students win battle of bands

Four Sonoma students won first-place in the Teen Battle of the Bands at the Sonoma County Fair this past summer and are quickly making a name for themselves around town. Besides a trophy, the title came with a $1,000 cash prize and a performance slot on the main stage of the fair in 2013. Tyler Meloan (far left) and Aaron Marcus-Willers (third from left), Sonoma Charter School eighth graders, are the founding members of the teen band Traffic Jam. Meloan plays the drums and Marcus-Willers plays lead guitar and provides vocals. Ryan Abshear (second from left) rhythm guitar and lead vocals, is a freshman at Justin-Siena and bass player Ben Koler (far right), is a Charter School grad who is currently a junior at ArtQuest/Santa Rosa High School. Meloan credits the Charter School’s Talent Show, as well as the Sonoma School of Rock and Summer Jazz Camp, with introducing the boys to different styles of music and making them comfortable performing in front of a crowd. Ken Brown, Sonoma mayor pro tem, is also a big fan and supporter of the band, having enjoyed their performances at the farmers market. SCS teacher Bob Edmonson, a working musician himself, recently hosted the band at his in-home studio for their first-ever recording session. You can follow the band online at facebook.com/TrafficJamBand and youtube.com/user/TrafficJamSonoma