Could Grammy gig be Park Ridge band’s big ‘Break’?

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A publicity photo for The Break, the Park Ridge rock band that will be performing Feb. 12 at a Grammy Awards viewing party in Chicago.

Updated: March 11, 2012 8:15AM

Park Ridge rock band The Break got their start playing low-key school variety shows and church festivals.

On Feb. 12 they will have a part in the American music industry’s biggest awards night of the year, the Grammys.

The Break, consisting of Maine South High School seniors Sean Cahill-Lemme, Paul Ansani, Matt Gieser and Miles Malin, has been selected to headline a concert during the 54th Annual Grammy Awards telecast viewing party presented by the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy. The event will take place at Lincoln Hall in Chicago’s Lakeview community and is an invitation-only show open to members of the Recording Academy of Chicago.

“It’s really kind of big in the music industry to be able to headline an event like this,” said Gieser, the band’s drummer, who expects many industry executives to be in attendance.

The Break recently joined Chicago’s Recording Academy, as well.

“We asked the Break to perform at the viewing party because we felt they had a unique sound, a great attitude and an intelligent outlook on their future careers,” said Sarah Mudler, project manager for the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy. “They are a bright bunch of young men and we will no doubt see a lot from them in the future.”

The Break will perform during the opening reception hour of the viewing party, which begins at 6 p.m. The Grammy Awards broadcast will follow at 7 p.m. and will be shown on large screens inside the venue.

The Break, formed when members were just eighth-graders at Emerson Middle School in Niles, has performed at numerous venues across Chicago, including Lincoln Hall, the Hard Rock Cafe, Beat Kitchen, Edison Park’s Emerald Isle, Abby Pub and Subterranean. They are hoping to perform at a festival in Austin, Texas, in March and would like to tour several cities on the East Coast.

The band has also recorded several original songs that are available for purchase on iTunes. The Break’s newest single is entitled “Here Tonight” and they expect to perform their original material at the Grammy’s viewing party.

Gieser said the band’s exposure has been due to successful networking.

“It’s been really great. We’re meeting tons and tons of people just playing music, doing what we love,” he said. “There’s nothing better.”