KARLA HELD | 210SA Contributor Avenue AM members Glen Mead (from left), on the guitar; Matt Franke, bass player; Ashley Sailer, who provides vocals; and Jason Kollar, drums.

THE BAND: Avenue AM

THE MEMBERS: Ashley Sailer (vocals, piano, keyboards); Matt Franke, (acoustic guitar, bass); Glen Mead (electric guitar); Jason Kollar (drums)

THE SOUND: Rich female vocals over piano and acoustic guitar-based rock; think Tori Amos or Paula Cole with more lush orchestration. “It's commercial, yet still original,” Franke said.

THE ALBUM: Worth the Wait (2008)

THE BACKGROUND: Franke and Sailer, who both attend Reagan High School, formed an acoustic duo in October 2006 (the band name refers to their first initials). When they decided to record their debut album, they added some studio musicians to fill out the sound; they liked the result so much, “We decided we want to keep this sound and be more rock-based,” Franke said. Kollar, who also attends Reagan, and Mead, who graduated from Smithson Valley High School, became permanent members of the band in August.

Now they perform either as a foursome at Jack's Patio Bar, White Rabbit and the Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar or as an acoustic trio of Franke, Sailer and Mead at Caféggio Coffee in Stone Oak.

WHERE TO SEE THEM: The CD release party for Worth the Wait (so-called because technical difficulties and other problems delayed its release for more than six months) is at Jack's Patio Bar and Grill on Saturday, Feb. 16.

THE 210 TAKE: Considering three-quarters of the band isn't old enough to vote (Sailer and Kollar are 15, Franke is 17 and Mead is 19), Avenue AM's music shows a promising maturity. The songs, which are mainly about relationships, are thoughtful and heartfelt; the passion of the lyrics is reflected in Sailer's voice, which steals the show.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA Contributor