St. Charles Band Is Headed for Hollywood

Things are looking up for a local band, The Giving Moon, whose four teenage members, representing both St. Charles high schools, have focused on charitable endeavors that are giving them a shot at fame in Hollywood.

Mayor Raymond Rogina recognized the four teens — ages 14 and 15 — at the close of the St. Charles City Council’s formal meeting Monday night, introducing them as the second “good news story” of the night  — the first was the police department’s recognition of a Michigan woman who came to the aid of a St. Charles woman in February.

Rogina introduced the four — Sean Seales, Marcello Positano, Adam Suto and Ryan Brasley. “They perform all over Chicagoland from festivals to The House of Blues …”

The boys consider themselves an alternative rock band. Seales and Brasley founded The Giving Moon. Seales is lead guitarist and vocalist, pianist and songwriter, while Brassley is the percussionist. The duo performed publicly for the first time at a charity event in 2007, according to The Giving Moon website.

Rhythm guitarist Positano came on board in 2009, and Suto joined as bass guitarist in 2010. Charity events continue to be a priority for these four youths.

The Giving Moon website notes that on Dec. 1, 2012, the band opened for Eddie Money, Edgar Winter, and John Cafferty at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St.,

A week later, they were invited back to open for Gary Hoey, considered among the world’s best guitarists.

“When they opened for Hoey at the Arcada, he was so impressed that he announced to the audience he would like to produce the band,” Rogina said. “Next thing you know, the band flies out to Boston in March, records their EP at the Metrodome in New Hampshire, where famous bands and artists have recorded.”

Hoey produced their first EP, The Wild, which was released in May. In brief, an EP — short for extended play — is more than a single recording but not long enough to be considered an album, or LP.

“The kids went back to Boston and Pennsylvania to perform,” Rogina said during Monday’s meeting. He also introduced Suzanne Positano — Marcello’s mom — as the band’s manager.

At one of the band’s most recent shows, Rogina said, people were so impressed with their performance that they called Suzanne “and said they’d like to connect them with some people in Hollywood.”

As an executive has set them up with a showcase in a Beverly Hills mansion, and the four teens are headed to Los Angeles on Aug. 3 for the showcase, where producers and record labels will be invited to view their talent..

It’s a shot that many bands with older members only dream of but which these four teens will experience in just a few weeks.

“The four of you are off to Hollywood,” Rogina said. We’d like to say, as the City Council, representing the city of St. Charles and all of its residents, that we are very, very proud of you.

“We wish you nothing — nothing but the very best, and we’re happy here at the City Council to give you a warm sendoff,” Rogina said.

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