Pull Start Rockets has performed on the same stage as revered artists like Natalie Cole and chart-topping Jason Mraz. They’ve rubbed shoulders with some of Nashville’s elite. But Cayman Persichini, younger brother Eric, Shawn Tebay and Skylar Marshall are staying grounded.

“Never would we have imagined that this would happen, but now that it has happened, we’re taking one day at a time,” said Cayman. “We’re not taking anything for granted. We have a great company...we have a good headstart. We’ll go right to the wall and go as hard as we can and hope for the best.

“If not, we’re all relatively young and have some education.”

The four talented Canadians have just finished recording their debut CD under the tutelage of Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter Tommy Sims. He helped the foursome hone their craft and prepare to launch their music to the world.

Pull Start Rockets’ big break came after a quiet night at The Hub in Westdale. Band members noticed a gentlemen sitting reflectively in a corner of the restaurant/lounge. After the show, he approached the group and introduced himself as Yamaha scout Chris Gero.

“We didn’t freak,” said Shawn. “We were all in school. There were pros and cons, and we wanted to find out what kind of opportunity this was.”

Band members “kept it realistic,” researched the legitimacy of Yamaha and discussed the possibilities as a business opportunity. Yet before they knew it, they were on a plane to Nashville, outfitted with Yamaha gear, and working in the studio.

“We were definitely in the right place at the right time,”said Cayman.

The band spent August and September 2009 laying down the tracks for their first CD. To launch their new talent, Yamaha then arranged for Pull Start Rockets to open the show at the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Dealer Concert Jan. 14 in Los Angeles. The band played two songs, including the rock ballad Can’t Get You Out of My Head, scored by James Newton, who has also composed for the movies Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Prince of Tides and The Fugitive.

The wide-eyed Pull Start Rockets band members were accompanied on stage by a 30-piece orchestra in the 2,100-seat venue. “It was insane,” said Shawn.

Bassist Eric, 18, and guitarist and lead vocalist Cayman, 21, were born and raised in Dundas. The St. Mary’s graduates were introduced to music at an early age by their father, a drummer and singer in a local band.

“They (our parents) enrolled us in piano lessons when we were five or six,” said Eric. “And like most kids, we hated it, but then we saw the drums, and we kinda moved over there.”

Highland graduate and drummer Shawn, 22, and Skylar, a 21-year-old who hails from Paris, round out the foursome.

Before the fickle finger of fate stepped into their lives, the young men were all attending university or college. Eric had just finished high school. They all took a year off from their studies to pursue a potential music carrer

The four enterprising band members write all of their own songs; each one is a collaboration with everyone bringing something different to the table.

The Persichini boys are influenced by their parents’ love of older rock — musicians like Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa. Shawn prefers modern alternative rock — Foo Fighters and Taking Back Sunday — while Skylar favours blues/country rock.

The result is infectious, pop/rock melodies full of raw energy that will have your head bobbing. Pull Start Rockets’ as-yet-unnamed album is set to be released in the spring. For more, see www.pullstartrockets.com .