The Next Generation of Rockers [Video]

As crowds piled into the PNC Arts Center Friday night to see The Vans Warped Tour, a few miles away, over a hundred fans of a similar sort piled into a smaller, more intimate venue in the Union Square Plaza on Route 35 in Middletown.

Here were the faces of former tour groupies, now parents and grandparents, alongside future tour groupies, currently friends, teammates and cousins. They came with a folding chair, a camera, and other typical tailgate paraphernalia to see the next generation of rock bands; rock bands made up of local 9-11 year olds with a dream, talent and a side of chutzpah.

For its 7th summer, Rock'n Music Academy and its owner Lee Edwards, Jr. held one of its Summer Rock Camps. During a week-long session, children learned professional songwriting techniques and took part in daily band rehearsals, honing their skills in order to perform four songs during a live outdoor show performed on the last night.

This week's camp brought together five children from Holmdel (Michael Bracco, Robert D'Aleo, Reese Goldberg, Sammy Goldberg, and Ryan Schachel), along with Michael Landolfi, Tinton Falls, and Madison Miller, Middletown, each with a background in a particular instrument. Songs were chosen, band names were discussed (Red Day & The What), and practice began with each child accepting a role for each of the four songs. The children covered such classics as Tom Petty's "Refugee," Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out," and the finale, The Kinks' "Lola."

So as we clapped along, and cheered, we wondered, did we just witness the future performers of The Vans Warped Tour? Will Red Day be the next Four Year Strong? Can The What become Of Mice and Men?

Or perhaps something bigger... was THAT the next Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band?