How mountain life shaped success for members of band from here in the Mountain Communities

In December 2011, The Mountain Enterprise brought you a story about the young musical group Banned From Here. They were then up-and-coming Frazier Mountain High School graduates playing everything from ska, blues, rock and reggae to their own originals. Their goal? To lift your soul and move you off your seat and up to the dance floor.

Now, the FMHS Class of 2020 graduation season is here—but with complications from the covid-19 pandemic that no one expected. This issue shows how the town is pulling together to honor our graduates. There is no better time than now to invite prior graduates to share their words of wisdom about what growing up in the Frazier Mountain Communities offered as a foundation in life.

We love to hear from “our kids” who also give inspiration to those still in school.

We wondered about this promising group of young musicians, so we asked their manager Shanna Llewellyn for an update—which she got for us from Oz LaBrae and Angelo Caprio, in the guys’ own words. We were especially interested in their thoughts on how their artistry was shaped by “growing up mountain.”

Oz LaBrae:

Growing up on Frazier Park turf nurtures inspiration and gives kids all the time they need to develop creatively when given the availability, opportunity, patience and time. 

In my childhood and adolescence experience, having music teachers in Frazier Park like [former resident] Tommy Osuna really helped with…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Musician Oz LaBrae today (above) is a session musician who also tours as a drummer with bands, based in Washington state. He was the drummer in Banned From Here, formed by Frazier Mountain High School graduates of the Class of 2008. At right is “Ozzie” as he appeared at a performance The Mountain Enterprise reported about in 2011.

Ozzie ‘The Righteous One’ LaBrae, Angelo ‘Lurch’ Caprio and Justin ‘The Blizzard’ Bahn in a 2011 promotion photo for Banned From Here

Justin Bahn, Angelo Caprio, music teacher Tommy Osuna and Ozzie LaBrae of Banned From Here about 9 years ago.

To see full stories with photos, please purchase a copy of the newspaper at many locations (click this link for a list) throughout the Mountain Communities.

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The e-Edition is available now with full photos and stories at The Mountain Enterprise e-Edition. Select the 2020-0515 edition.

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This is part of the May 15, 2020 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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