Rock band keeps rolling on to bigger things

The hits just keep on coming for the rock band, Powerspace.

What started out as a band picking up gigs around the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, now has spread its wings across the country.

Its members feature Dan McMahon of Arlington Heights on bass guitar, Tom Schleiter of Hoffman Estates on lead guitar, Alec Cyganowski of Palatine as lead singer, and Kevin Kane of Green, Ohio on drums.

Bob DeBelina of Palatine, a friend from St. Viator High School, and finishing his senior at Northwestern University, manages the band, including all of the merchandising.

It was just a few years ago that McMahon and Schleiter were playing in the St. Viator jazz band while performing in their own bands on the side, including competing in the Battle of the Bands at Frontier Days.

The two friends still love playing music together, but their venues keep getting bigger.

After being picked up by the "Fueled by Ramen" record label, the group recorded their first album last winter, called "The Kicks of Passion," which hit store shelves in August.

They started touring in March, rearranging college schedules to do it. Just last month they opened for the Canadian band, Sum 41, at a concert in Portland before a sold-out crowd of 8,000 fans.

Last week they were in California for a series of concerts, though at least two of their shows in San Diego were canceled due to the fires.

To date, their parents estimate they have toured in all but six states in the continental United States, and logged more than 60,000 miles on their van and trailer, purchased with the help of their sponsor, Red Bull.

The latest chapter, however, took place earlier this month, when its members returned to the Chicago area to film their first music video, "Right On, Right Now." The video drew more than 11,000 hits its first day up, and interest continues to grow.

To learn more about the band, visit their web site, at: www.myspace.com/powerspace.