Tragedy Andy heading to MTV

For San Mateo native Dusty Roth, a member of the four-piece indy-pop-punk outfit Tragedy Andy, years of hard work and high school band class are starting to pay off.

This Monday, a Tragedy Andy song will be featured on MTV's season finale of X-Treme Road Rules, premiering at 10 p.m.

"We weighed out all the pros and cons but in the end we decided that it would be a great way to get our music out there to more people," said Roth.

And after years of playing local clubs and passing out fliers, the national recognition seems well-deserved.

"There is always that worry of being labeled a 'sell out,'" mused Roth. "But we're artists, we have a message to send and you can reach a lot more people through television."

"I say if you don't want to be labeled a sell-out then stay in your garage and just play music for yourself and your friends!" joked Roth, revealing a sort of punk rock pragmatism.

Roth formed Tragedy Andy with high school rival-come-best friend Justin Burgos when the two were at Aragon High in the late '90s. The two boys, both bass players, started off hating each other, he said.

"There was major competition between us," said Roth, the band's 21-year old guitar player and vocalist. "[It lasted] until my junior year, his senior year. Then we were both in the same band class, the only bass players, so we were kind of forced to talk to each other."

"And [then we] became best friends," said Roth, laughing.

Five years later those friends have become known for high-energy shows and loyalty to their fans. Not to mention mind-blowing rock.

"They are phenomenal live," said Anthony Bey, the band's newly-acquired manager. "They're energetic, fun and great to watch, as well as being extremely talented songwriters and musicians. It's their live show that's bringing in the fan base," said Bey.

The band actually got their manager in a unique - though very Californian - way.

"I saw them at the Foster City Art and Wine Festival," said Bey, "and I was so impressed."

Art and wine?

"The festival had jazz and stuff - some of everything. I was actually on my way out when I heard Tragedy Andy come on. I realized immediately it was not time to leave," said Bey.

Bey had great timing. As soon as he came on board, MTV showed interest, and suddenly he had a real phenomenon on his hands.

Andy has recently swapped out two of its members for new ones, bringing in Dustin Roth on drums and Isaac B. on guitar.

The new members aren't on the band's current full-length album, released by PopSmear records. They are featured on some new, unreleased material available at purevolume.com, however.

All four band members post their e-mail addresses and instant messenger names on their Web site, as well as on a Weblog where fans can chat, holler at the band and throw underwear on the stage - virtually.

A fellow musician who goes by the name Tek-Threat hangs out at the band's Internet portal with 593 other friends and fans who are members of the site. Tek-Threat went to school with Justin and Dusty, and recalled that even from the beginning, the band's energy was magnetic.

"There was something about them, especially Dusty, that the audience really seemed to like," he said. "I used to work at B Street where they did shows regularly. That's where I saw them really coming together as artists as opposed to the kid stuff."

"There are times when you first hear a band and you have that gut instinct that they're going somewhere. It was one of those moments when I caught Tragedy Andy's show the first time," he said.

Are the guys getting big heads now that they're on their way?

A friend since middle school, Tek-Threat said no.

"As a band, they've gotten so much better at what they're doing, but Dusty is the same guy I met in the band room, lugging around a guitar," he laughed.

The moral of the story? High school band geeks aren't. And when you get the power of the Internet behind your music, your fan base can expand exponentially, even when you start locally.

"The fact that they're from San Mateo is all the more impressive," said Tek-Threat. "They're really a band I can identify with, not just cause of music, but we are all trying to do something we love to do."

"The story of Tragedy Andy is more than just the band, it's hope."