To some, Alamosa Drive in Claremont may seem like an ordinary, run-of-the-mill street. However, to seniors Devin Mejia, JJ Soleimani, and Josh Carmona, it is the birthplace, practice site, and namesake of their up-and-coming band Alamosa.

Alamosa was originally started by senior lead guitarist JJ Soleimani in Sept. 2014, but it has grown to include fellow seniors drummer Devin Mejia and vocalist/bass guitarist Josh Carmona. Since then, the band has played at birthday parties and has booked an upcoming gig in April at a fundraising event for veterans at an American Legion in Pomona. In addition, the band has played at the all-ages club, Chain Reaction in Anaheim after the club saw their Facebook page and contacted the band.

Alamosa’s first gig at a real venue was at Chain Reaction, where they played a set of four original songs, including “Alive/Butterfly” and “Ohkay,” in addition to a Smashing Pumpkins cover. Despite a few small mistakes, like Mejia dropping a drumstick or Carmona struggling with an unfamiliar microphone, the gig went well and the audience enjoyed the music.

“At first, of course, I was nervous, but I was playing, and I saw people bobbing their heads. When I saw them getting into the music, it was relieving because they’re there for the music and they’re enjoying it. It was fun,” Carmona said.

As for the type of music the band plays, drummer Mejia has a bit of difficulty narrowing down the exact type of music the band plays, considering they play songs from a variety of genres. The band classifies themselves as an alternative rock band, but have originals that range from pop punk to heavy rock.

Similarly, the band has a range of musical influences from multiple genres. Mejia recognizes popular rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as overall influences, but he also acknowledges that each individual band member has his own personal taste.

“My music influences are Panic! At the Disco and bands like that. Josh is more into Interpol, Incubus, and bands like that. So, we have a wide variety of inspirations, and we just combine them into one,” Mejia said.

Alamosa may have only started at the beginning of the school year, but the band already has a number of original songs under their belt, such as “Ohkay,” “Promise,” and a two-part song, “Alive/Butterfly.” Soleimani, the lead lyricist in the band, has a knack for writing love songs, but the band is beginning to move away from that topic to explore a wider range of subjects.

“[We’ll have songs about] politics, nature, introspective things like that. We want to touch on everything, not just love,” Carmona said.

Alamosa also has plans to begin recording their first extended play (EP) in a studio in March, though the release date is currently unknown. In the meantime, the band’s full set list can be found on YouTube, as well as at the various gigs they have performed.

The band shares a goal with most other bands: to tour the country, play a lot of gigs, and maybe even get signed. As Mejia put it, the band’s goal is to “get big, real big, and share our music.” Although the band started as a hobby, the members of Alamosa are taking themselves more and more seriously as time goes on. Practices usually happen two or three times a week, and can take up a total of nine to ten hours a week.

“When I first joined the band, I was kind of thinking of just making it a hobby and not really doing anything with it. Then, I joined, and I’m thinking we’re probably going to make a career out of it. With music for me, it’s not like if it doesn’t work out, I’m just going to stop. Music, for me, is a lifestyle,” Carmona said.

Though Alamosa has started fairly recently, the band is already off to a promising start packed full of gigs and original songs. Catch them live at the upcoming CHS Battle of the Bands, or find them on social media at their Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages.