Woodbury’s Blatant Youth: Music Has No Age Limit

They can feel the questioning looks and hear the whispers about Justin Bieber as they plug in their instruments.

Once they start playing, however, any doubts about their age quickly fade away.

Blatant Youth, a band made up of four youngsters 12-15 years old, is gaining a reputation as one of the top young rock groups in the Twin Cities. Three of the four boys are from Woodbury.

They met at School of Rock in St. Paul a couple of years ago and quickly noticed their respective talent. Soon they formed a band.

Chris Johnson is the father of band member Collin Johnson, 12, a student who plays guitar and sings.

“He was like, ‘Dad, I want to start a band,’” said Johnson, who serves as the manager of Blatant Youth. “I told him, ‘You’re only 11 years old.’”

Their youth, however, didn’t stop them from making it to the finals in the open division at a State Fair competition last year, winning a battle of the bands event at Famous Dave’s in Minneapolis and getting paid to perform at various Twin Cities venues.

At 15, Woodbury resident Jake Luppen is the band’s senior member. A student at the St. Paul Conservancy for Performing Artists, Jake said their age means they have to perform at a top level out of the gate.

“We kind of have to prove ourselves at first,” he said. “That first song has to be fantastic or we’re going to loose them.”

Each said they go through a bit of a funk when they go too long between shows.

“Just that feeling of being on stage is fantastic,” Jake said. “It’s so cool, just mind-blowing.”

Added drummer Sam Mathys, 13, of Savage: “I feel like I can escape everything and just get into the music.”

Bassist Zach Sutton, 14, a Woodbury resident who also attends the St. Paul Conservancy for Performing Artists, said the group has been asked for autographs after shows.

“I can’t believe celebrities get tired of this,” he said, noting that after a show, “It’s like you’re on this adrenaline high.”

The group does some covers but writes much of their own music. They have a good vibe together, Sam said.

“We’ll be writing a song and somebody plays a little riff or drum beat and then we all just start jamming on it,” he said.

Said Jake: “We’ve just grown so much. I learn from Collin and we all learn from each other.”

The members of Blatant Youth said they enjoy all types of music and described their own style as a mix of rock from the 1960s to 1980s, noting influences from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden.

The band said they learn a lot from fellow musicians when they perform. The bands they open for often take them under their wing after a show and give them tips and pointers. Mostly it’s about staying true to their music, having fun and remaining together.

“People say, ‘You’re really good. Don’t be like a lot of bands that had their glory and then fade way,’” Sam said.

Blatant Youth’s upcoming goals are to play at First Avenue in Minneapolis this year and record an album. Later down the line they’d like to play at big arenas, Jake said.

“And have the fans running after us,” Collin added.

Chris, the manager, said when the group started they agreed that it was school first, music second, and the bottom line was to have fun.

“These guys all have an unusual passion for music for their age,” said Fred Mathys, Sam’s father, who was at a rehearsal on Saturday.

Chris recalled a time when Blatant Youth was performing at Famous Dave’s. The audience couldn’t see the band when they came in.

“Then they see that they’re kids, and they’re jaws just dropped,” he said.