In Hereford Park, amongst playground contraptions and sidewalk games, the strumming of bass and electric guitars pierced the air.
Adults recognized the tune — AC/DC’s familiar T.N.T. — but not the voice singing the lyrics.
“’Cause I’m T.N.T., I’m dynamite, and I’ll win the fight,” a young girl’s voice boomed above the instruments, “I’m a power load, watch me explode.”
As classic-rock fans meandered toward the stage at the back of the park to fill their curiosity, their jaws dropped. The performers were a group of middle-schoolers.
“Yeah!” one 30-something man shouted as he spotted them onstage. “Rock on!”
The scene was one of dozens at this year’s biggest-ever PorchRokr music festival in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood. More than 200 bands performed on porches and stages in the middle of streets, while vendors and neighborhood residents sold wares, food and drink.
The group of middle-school rockers, known as Detention, performed a set list of classic tunes to a very impressed crowd of people young and old.
The band members are female singer Elliott Carter, 12, electric guitarist Christopher Marcic, 13, bass guitarist Fritz Dannemiller, 13, and drummer Luke Konopka, 11.
Christopher’s mother, Tara Marcic, said the band has been together about two months, and Elliott only joined a few weeks ago.
“Aren’t they great?” she said, holding her phone up to record the performance.
She said the four bandmates were students at the Fairlawn School of Music, which matched them up because they had similar musical interests. Her son has played guitar for about two years — but his sleek handling of the guitar strings suggested a longer study.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the neighborhood, 13-year-old Lydia Walker set up shop outside her Conger Avenue home. Across the street, blues rock band SoulShine riffed.
Lydia sat at a table lined with colorful cups and a sign reading: Lemonade, $1. She said the refreshments were homemade.
“I just sort of felt like setting up,” she said, placing a dollar bill from a customer in a pouch on her table. “And I’m doing all right.”
While SoulShine jammed away, two spectators listened from a bench.
“We’ve been to an event like this in Larchmere [Cleveland], but this is different,” said Rex Cassidy of Brecksville.
“They don’t have neighbors setting up shops in yards like this, and I like this a lot.”
His wife, Carrie Cassidy, said it was their first time attending the event, which has been held five times in four years by the Highland Square Neighborhood Association.
“We’re really enjoying ourselves,” she said, her husband’s arm around her back as they listened. “We had some time to spare today, and I’m glad we spent it this way.”
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ngfalcon.