Marc Sorrentino Sticks to the Plan

This year, senior Marc Sorrentino created a band with a group of his friends called Stick to the Plan. They rock out out at local venues such as The Talent Farm.

BY JESSICA WEAVER

Months of non-stop practicing have led to one of the most important and memorable days of Stick to the Plan’s musical career, their first real gig at the Talent Farm in Pembroke Pines. Jumping onto the stage, the band’s fear quickly melted away as they began to play. Their obvious talent soon mesmerized the crowd, who had once gazed at the unfamiliar band with uncertainty. The crowd feds off of the band’s energy and bounced with the beat. As the song came to an end, the band left the stage with a new feeling of success, and about 40 new fans.

Senior Marc Sorrentino has always had a love for music. His interest began at age six when he learned to play numerous instruments such as the clarinet and bass guitar. When he turned sixteen, he grew a passion for singing, and eventually joined a band  called Agony’s Arrow with a group friends that came together and bonded because of their love for music. Sorrentino put a lot of time and dedication into the band, and was heartbroken when they split. When boredom struck during the summer of 2010, Sorrentino decided it was time to put together a band of his own.

While creating his band, Sorrentino chose not only talented musicians but also friends that he knew would bring something unique to the band. Doug Posner (Guitar) brings enthusiasm and is one of the main composers, Josue Vargas (Guitar) writes guitar melodies that amaze everyone, Bobby Blackburn (Bass) brings aggression and yelling to the band, and Kyle Lacoste (Drums) brings speed and power with his amazing drum skills. As the founder of the band, Sorrentino brings realistic themes to all of their songs and keeps the band grounded. Each band member plays a huge part in helping to make the band successful.

“The perks, flaws and everything in between are what makes our band what it is,” Sorrentino said.  “We all have something about us that makes us unique and without every person, we’re just like all the other aspiring pop-punk bands. I love everything about our band.”

Stick to the Plan worked hard over the summer, practicing twice a week for a good 3-4 hours at a time. Now that school is in session, they get together at Lacoste’s house every Saturday for several hours. The band knows fame won’t come easily and since they are a new band, they have had to work extra hard to get their name known.

Primarily a pop-punk band, Stick to the Plan idolizes musical acts such as New Found Glory and Fall Out Boy because they both show positivity and depth in their music.  Those bands’ candid songs inspired Sorrentino to make their original songs 100 percent relatable. In order to create a song, the band usually begins with a first rough draft and then revises and collaborates to make the song perfect.  Their songs’ lyrics are based on everyday life experiences from self-respect to love to independence.

Besides creating catchy songs, Stick to the Plan’s greatness is due to their fearless attitude in trying new techniques. Their versatility is evident in one of their new songs, “Finny Your Charade is Up”, which is about staying optimistic after a breakup. It took about a month to write and is one of their biggest hits. Stick to the Plan’s songs are meaningful not only to them, but also to those who listen to them.

“I love when people come up to me and say that my lyrics are what helps them get through the day,” Sorrentino said. “I put my heart and soul into every lyric I put down on the page.”

Though many bands have pre-performance rituals to bring them good luck, Stick to the Plan doesn’t do anything too out of the ordinary.  However, Sorrentino warms up by singing, “Our Lawyer Made us Change the Name of This Song So We Wouldn’t Get Sued” by Fall Out Boy and drinking fruit punch, his favorite beverage. The other band members prepare by setting up their equipment and jamming to various metal songs. As a group, the band members jump around backstage to get into the high-energy mindset needed to put on a rocking performance. And they did just that; Stick to the Plan amazed the crowd with their fresh, raw talent during their first show on Oct. 22, 2010 at the Talent Farm.

“The best part of Stick to the Plan is making music that our fans love,” Lacoste said.

Being in a band has taught the band members valuable lessons, such as communication skills and working as a cohesive unit. Being in the band has impacted each member’s life, and they want to remember this feeling forever. Since gaining a fanbase, the band has made the promise to themselves to always remain true to who they are.

“I have a lot more confidence in myself than I ever did before,” Sorrentino said. ” I used to think that my words didn’t mean anything to anyone. The feeling I get when I belt out our songs is indescribable. Emotionally, I feel like I’ve become a totally different person from being in this band. But, at the end of the day, I’m still the same guy. Nothing about me will ever change. I’ll always know where I came from.”

As for the future, the band will continue the play at small venues and at house shows around the Pembroke Pines, Weston, and Davie areas. Stick to the Plan hopes to release a five-song demo called Go Big or Go Home. They eventually want to perform in other cities, such as Orlando. By expanding their distances, the band will have a greater chance of becoming recognized. Though, theit number one goal right now is to have an amazing time along the way.

“No matter how much money we make, how many downloads or how many accolades we get, it won’t feel the same unless we enjoyed the journey,” Sorrentino said.