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Music

Meet the Band: Roppongi's Ace

A look at a band with local ties.

By JULIE GARISTO
Published December 21, 2006

ACES: Max Norton, drums, guitar and vocals; Alex Spoto, vocals and guitar; and Nathan Cress, bass, mandolin, banjo and vocals.

WHAT THEY PLAY: A mix of vintage American styles - blues, bluegrass and rock 'n' roll. As a duo, Norton and Spoto sound a lot like their idols, the Black Keys. But since adding Cress a month ago, their sound has gotten fuller and more distinctive.

WHIPPERSNAPPERS: Norton and Cress are seniors at Plant High School, and Spoto is a senior at Jesuit High School.

WHAT ABOUT THAT NAME? "My brother used to live in Tokyo, Japan, and Roppongi's the nightlife district there," Norton says.

Cress: "The Ybor of Japan."

Norton: "Yeah, times 10! He came home with stories of how awesome Roppongi was when we were stuck on band names."

THEY GO WAY BACK: Norton and Spoto have known each other since preschool.

Spoto: "We hated each other until sixth or seventh grade."

Norton: "And became best friends."

Norton met Cress in ninth grade German class.

BACKGROUNDS: Spoto started playing violin at 3. "I guess how I really ended up making the jump to being in a rock band from being the kid with the goofy combed hair playing the violin at recitals was ... every kid discovers the Beatles," he says. "I still play classical violin. I'm in an orchestra. I also play the Bluegrass Parlor Thursdays. It's been this sort of eclectic mix for me, but it blends together nicely."

Cress: "I grew up on the Doobie Brothers and ZZ Top. I played violin in the sixth grade but I sucked at it. I got a bass for Christmas for one year and started playing and then picked up guitar and other instruments. It's been a stringing party ever since."

Norton: "My dad started playing old Arhoolie records, old Delta blues, when I was little, and basically if I was caught listening to the hot pop bands, like Nirvana, he'd take my boom box out back and shoot it with a shotgun, metaphorically speaking. For Christmas, I got a drum set back in like seventh grade. My middle brother was playing guitar and my older brother was playing bass. We didn't know what we were doing. We all got together and called ourselves Norton - after Hanson."

WHAT THEY DO FOR FUN: "We actually swing dance," Norton says. "At Zendah Grotto."

WORST GIG: "At Brass Mug," Spoto says. "The sound guy didn't show up. Max broke his drums! It was abysmal. The funny part was the crowd loved it. They thought it was rock."

LAST MOVIE THEY ALL SAW TOGETHER: Nacho Libre.

CHECK 'EM OUT: 8 tonight with Look Mexico and Fake Problems, Transitions Art Gallery at the Skatepark of Tampa, 4215 E Columbus Drive, Tampa. www.transitionsartgallery.com, (813) 621-6793.

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[Last modified December 20, 2006, 10:45:47]