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THE INDEPENDENT FLORIDA ALLIGATOR
By Jennifer Pfaff

Ska Band Makes TV Appearance

Ten 13 Concept competes for a chance to win $1 Million.

They've got guitars.  They've got fans.  They've got trumpets, trobmones, pink Converse sneakers and a mohawk or two.

Apparently, America thinks they've also got talent.

After performing on NBC's "America's Got Talent" at the end of June, local pop-ska band Ten 13 Concept, which features six musicians from the Gainesville and Orlando areas, will return to Los Angeles to compete in the semifinals of the show for $1 million.

"It's just a great experience every time we go out there, so we're looking forward to it again," said Joe Loffredo, the band's rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist.

The band will fly to California on Wednesday to perform for the second time on the summer seies show, produced by "American Idol's" Simon Cowell, that allows people from all over the United States to vie for $1 million in a talent competition.

Acts range from singing, dancing and playing musical instruments to sword swallowing, performing magic acts and even stripping.

The show's judges, actor David Hasselhoff, singer Brandy Norwood and former newspaper editor Piers Morgan, critique each performance and determine whether a contestant remains in the running for the money.  TV viewers vote online at NBC's website for their favorite acts to decide the overall winner, who leaves with the $1 million at the end of the season.

Ten 13 Concept was invited to audition for "America's Got Talent" after recognition from Orlando's Florida Music Festival on May 19.

A few weeks later, the band was flown to California for six days and competed on the show against other acts, all from the East Coast, performing a shortened, two-minute version of their song, "Three Weeks."

"Who would have thought a small-town band could represent Gainesville?  The entire East Coast?" Loffredo said.

The episode of "America's Got Talent" featuring Ten 13 Concept aired on June 28th, but NBC only played a brief clip of the band's performance, along with those of other acts, at the end of the show in order to limit the episode to one hour.

Immediately after the episode ended, the network displayed full-length video clips on it's website throughout the next day of performances from the show including ones like Ten 13 Concept that weren't aired in their entirety.

"That was three seconds of opportunity," Loffredo said.

Ten 13 Concept recently became sponsored by musical instrument retailer Sam Ash Music, which helps support the band members with tours and performances.  However, the self-managed band books it's own tours and relies heavily on it's free profile on myspace.com for networking.

"it's tought because we're not a big name," said Chris Torres.  "We want to spread our music."

Should Ten 13 Concept make it past this semifinals round, the band will compete in the finals episode, expected to air sometime in August.

If they win the entire contest, the band members agree to use the money to further their career as a band.

"We were born performers," Loffredo said.  "That's what we're born to do.  That's all we want to do."

Loffredo's brother and fellow band member, Mike, said he was excited for the opportunity to perform and to show the nation who Ten 13 Concept is.

"We all play from our hearts, but we were playing for everybody in this hometown right here, he said.  "Things are falling into place right now."

Ten 13 Concept will appear on NBC's "America's Got Talent" again later this month.

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