21 Apr Give the Drummer Some

I started drumming when I was 7 years old. I would go to my lessons straight from dance class — pink tutu and all. My feet could barely reach the pedals.

14 years, four bands, and hundreds of gigs later, I’m still drumming but for a slightly different crowd.

I’m Emily Bloch, and as a member of the Miami HEAT Street Band, I get to support my home team, strap on a bass drum, and run onto the court of AmericanAirlines Arena to perform for crowds of 20,000. The roar of the audience is satisfying, but it’s only about one-eighth of the crowd you can expect at this year’s SunFest.

For 33 years, the annual West Palm Beach festival has attracted crowds of 175,000, and this year should be no different. This will be my first SunFest, I can’t wait to feel that adrenaline rush.

That’s right, I’m a newbie to the annual music and arts festival. Living in Hollywood, Florida my whole life and serving as a local music writer, it’s sort of a disgrace.

But this year, I plan on repenting for my sins by serving as your SunFest assistant blogger.

Not only is this exciting for me (have you seen this lineup? We’ll get to that in a little), but I think it’s a great opportunity for you blog readers to see the festival from a new perspective — whether you’re green like me, or a seasoned fest attender.

As for the bands, here are the three I’m most looking forward to, and believe me, it was a toss up.

My Picks:

1. Fall Out Boy – I saw FOB on their “reunion” tour at the Fillmore in Miami two years ago. They had just come back from their four year hiatus with their album “Save Rock and Roll,” and people were going crazy. The concert was sold out and room to breathe was sparse to say the least.

Why You Should See Them: With their new album “American Beauty/American Psycho” out, the group’s setlist is bound to consist of singles or about-to-be singles. Their first track off this album, “Centuries,” was out for basically a minute before it dominated every Sunday Night Football commercial. Seeing FOB may get you a lead on Major League Baseball’s new title track. Plus, you know you want to sing that “Sugar, We’re Going Down” chorus.

When They Perform: Sunday, May 3, 7:30 p.m. @ The Ford Stage

2. Boston – Guilty confession: In fourth grade, whenever we had a substitute and knew about it ahead of time, I’d bring my red Sony Walkman (remember when those were cool?) and a handful of CDs to make the day go by faster. But this wasn’t your regular 10 year old’s Britney or Christina. I’d rob from my dad’s collection and bring three staples: Stevie Wonder’s “Original Musiquarium I,” Deep Purple’s “Shades of Deep Purple,” and Boston’s “Greatest Hits.” Some of my best childhood memories entail riding shotgun in my dad’s truck and screaming the lyrics to “Peace of Mind” with him. I would be so proud whenever he said a line like “I can’t believe my daughter is growing up with the same music that I did.” A few years later we even got to see the group in concert and believe me, it’s not something you should miss. Check out SunFest’s interview with Boston lead guitarist Gary Pihl here.

Why You Should See Them: Boston’s been going since the 70’s and if selling over 30 million albums over that time span wasn’t enough to establish credibility, they’re still releasing music now. The group has countless singles from “More Than A Feeling” to “Amanda” and even after the loss of their original lead singer, the band mates new and old continue to keep the legacy alive.

When They Perform:  Sunday, May 3, 6:45 p.m. @ The Tire Kingdom Service Centers Stage

3. Pixies – “Where Is My Mind” is a lot more than the soundtrack to a car commercial. More than that, it was an anthem off Pixie’s debut album “Surfer Rosa,” despite never being released as a single. Since their first step into the limelight in 1988, the group not only influenced audiences, but other bands such as Radiohead, Nirvana, and Weezer. Oh, and fun fact? Pixies drummer David Lovering actually wrote the score for that Acura ad.

Why You Should See Them: In 2014, 23 years after  their last album, Pixies dropped “Indie Cindy,” a 13-track album which also had a Record Store Day limited vinyl release. With more than 20 years between their last album and this, Pixies are one of those historical bands you can brag about seeing for years to come.

When They Perform: Sunday, May 3, 2:15 p.m. @ The Ford Stage