Newer to the local music scene but already making serious noise, Paperboy Riot is a band built on energy, connection, and a love for live performance.
Made up of guitarist and vocalist Gavin Harrison, Huntley High School alum and Class of 2025, drummer Ethan Arellano, guitarist Camden Page, and bassist Calder Gagne, the group has spent the past year playing shows, building an audience, and preparing for the release of their upcoming album.
Paperboy Riot began when Harrison and Arellano, who had previously played together in another band, started recording demos independently. After searching for additional members, an unexpected connection brought together their band.
A chance conversation at a local venue led to Page and Gagne joining the project. Leading to what the band described as an instant creative match.
“We filtered through a lot of people,” Harrison said. “But when we all met, it just clicked. It was kind of unbelievable how well we hit it off.”
The band’s name came from a mix of nostalgia and spontaneity. Inspired by the game, Paperboy, along with typical punk names, the name “Paperboy Riot” stuck almost immediately.
“Once we said it, everyone just knew,” Harrison said. “That was it.”
Lauren Eakes-Loving, a music teacher at Huntley High School, remembers Gavin as a student who stood out early on. She first had him in guitar and music history, where it quickly became clear that he already had a strong foundation from playing guitar previously.
“He had been playing guitar for a while, and [guitar I] is a really beginner class,” Eakes-Loving said. “It was clear that he kind of had more skills than we were going to learn in the class, but he was really helpful to his other students.”
When Harrison later joined choir, she noticed the same quick adaptability. While he already had a strong ear and vocal ability from his background in punk, Eakes-Loving said he “took really quickly” to learning music literacy and ensemble skills.
Huntley’s music program supports students with a wide range of musical goals, from classical performance to rock bands and songwriting.
“We understand that not every student is goin to play in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra,” Eakes-Loving said. “We try to apply the skills broadly, because learning how to think about the music you’re making instead of just doing it is always going to make you a better musician.”
When asked what advice she would give students hoping to follow a similar path, her answer was simple: get involved and ask questions.
“Be in these rooms. Be involved in music here,” Eakes-Loving said. “We’re all on the same team, and we want to see you succeed in whatever kind of music you want to pursue.”
One of the most accomplished things for the members is performing live. The band frequently pointed to their Dec. 26 show as a turning point, describing a crowd filled with mosh pits, stage-diving, and nonstop moving.
“To see people jumping on stage and dancing to something we made- that feeling is unbeatable,” Harrison said. “That’s why we do this.”
For the rest of the members, performing live is where the magic happens.
“I love having my energy, you know, I love playing. I love banging on the drums, I love just playing drums in front of people, and I love dancing,” Arellano said.
For Page, the experience has been a chance to bring his own influences into a new genre.
“I just really had to apply that into a completely different style of music,” Gagne said. “I really love The Clash. Specifically, London Calling, and just a lot of the 90s, grunge and alternative…a big inspiration of mine. I think playing live has taught me most about not doubting myself.”
Together, the band thrives on the energy of the crowd, a mix of influences, and the thrill of sharing their music live. Playing live has also taught the group valuable lessons, from trusting sound engineers to learning how to move on stage and not rush performances. More than anything, it has given them confidence.
“Don’t quit,” Harrison said. He gives advice he would give to students who want to pursue music. “It gets hard, but if you really care, the right people will find you.”
