By Lindsay Tice

Staff Writer

They're nameless, ageless and mysterious (mostly for the lack of last names and ages), but the five members of Civil Disturbance aren't shy about stepping into the spotlight.

Their unique sound - call it melodic metal or alternative metal - won them first place in the 2007 Battle of the Bands competition in Skowhegan and got them named Best Heavy Music/Metal Act this year in the Portland Pheonix's Best of Music Poll. Their CD - "The Battle Within" - has been near the top of the local CD sales chart for 51 of the last 52 weeks. On July 28, the central Maine-based band will play at the Bangor State Fair to benefit Camp P.O.S.T.C.A.R.D., a summer camp that provides kids with law enforcement role models. And in August, Civil Disturbance will defend its title at the 2008 Battle of the Bands.

Members took a few minutes out of their busy schedules to talk to b.

Names (and positions): Matt E., lead vocals; Nikko, drums and background vocals; Matt T., lead/rhythm guitar and background vocals; Dan, bass and background vocals; and Kris, rhythm/lead guitar and background vocals. We are one of those bands that don't like using last names.

Hometowns: We all live in the L-A area with the exception of Nikko, who lives in Gray. (He always feels the need to be different.)

How'd you come up with the name of the band? "Civil Disturbance" just seemed to roll off of the tongue after about a million bad name choices. We also feel that the name represents our music, due to the majority of the songs being related to a struggle between good/evil, right/wrong or the fight of overcoming some obstacle or dealing with some hardship.

How'd the band get formed? (Kris speaking) My wife, Jamie, was working in a local bar on Thursdays and on weekends. This particular place was very well known for its vast number of karaoke singers. Week after week Jamie would come home and say "I heard this guy named Matt singing the Tantric song "Mourning" and he was awesome." So after about three weeks I told her to stop telling me about this guy unless she gets his number for me. The very next week she got his number and the rest is history. Coincidentally, we had the opportunity to open for Tantric a few years ago.

What's your favorite song that you play? Any one of our newest songs, there is so much energy behind them and they are exciting to play out.

I hear you won Battle of the Bands in 2007. What was that like? Where to start. . . well, first off you just have to give huge props to (radio station) WTOS for putting on the most amazing show for all local bands in the state. This event is the biggest, most sought after show for any band in the local music scene.

Well, let me say that we never even expected to make it into the top four and play that huge stage in Skowhegan. Our main objective as a band was to make it to the top 12 (the semi-finals) just to be on the WTOS Homegrown CD. I remember listening to the radio when they announced the top four, the radio cut out right before they announced us and we were all on the phones with each other wondering what the heck happened. So anyway, we made it to Skowhegan and played our hearts out in front of literally thousands of people, never once expecting to win. So when they announced our name as the winners we were all in shock. Wow, I could talk about this all night.

Best gig you've ever played? 2007 WTOS Battle of the Bands in Skowhegan.

Dream gig? I don't think we have really talked too much about that, but I would have to say a dream gig for us would be a sold-out arena, pretty much anywhere.

What do your friends/families think about the band? Well, our friends and families, regardless if they like the idea of us being in bands or not, have been nothing but supportive. We could not ask for a better group of people to be surrounded by. It's funny, though, because it almost seems like some people, although they would like to see us "grow up," enjoy the stories we have to tell. But for the most part our families are all very proud of us and all we have accomplished.

ltice@sunjournal.com