Boredom abounding, partying becomes a prevalent choice. Unfortunately, that partying can come at a high price. And so, in the light of the tragic alcohol-related traffic accident that lead to the death of Los Gatos High School teen Eric Quesada, the Alive...and Loving Life group is offering up a slew of alternatives to boozing and buzzing through summer weeknights.

With backing from CASA, YMCA and a host of local residents and businesses, a team of Los Gatos High School students—including junior Nicole Wasserman and seniors Chiara Kramer, Kaiti Fink and Victoria Frangadakis—are leading these efforts, providing regular music shows for teens on Thursday and Monday nights.

"Everyone has worked so hard to get everything done for this. The support we've had is just amazing, I'm shocked," Kramer says. "So many people have stepped forward to take a part in it."

Throughout July and August, the group has put on concerts nearly every week, with Monday performances at Starbucks on Blossom Hill Road, Thursdays at the Old Town Amphitheater, and several Saturday shows at Vasona Lake County Park.

Due to an early time slot of 11 a.m. for Vasona, and amplification restrictions at Starbucks, the biggest crowds head for the Thursday night shows, featuring a host of music varieties, from rock and hip-hop to Latin and country.

"Our Thursday shows have been excellent, they're packed," Kramer says.

"People are really into the local bands from around here," says Fink. "The shows are slowly getting bigger; it's just a matter of getting the word out."

The idea for Alive...and Loving Life music shows originated back in March when a community workshop was held for students, town officials, and police officers.

"At the meeting we got together and thought, 'What are we passionate about?'" Kramer says. "It's music, and what other kid isn't?"

To find out if the students agreed, 1,600 surveys were sent throughout the school. Over 500 responses gave a resounding yes, and the planning for summer shows kicked off.

"It's good, it gives teenagers something to do," Kramer says. "When we started it up, there was nothing to do."

"We wanted something different than what's at the Outhouse. We wanted some diversity in the music," Fink says, adding that Los Gatos teens also wanted an option away from their school campus.

Kathy Winkleman of CASA helped the students with permits and insurance, while the teens took off full speed with organizing and booking shows. "It's been such a blast. This is the stuff [CASA] loves to do, especially when the kids are so enthusiastic," she says. "It's wonderful to see our kids in town having a good time. Adults try to give things to kids, but this is going to be very successful because the young people are organizing it for their peers, which is what the Alive...and Loving Life effort is all about."

As the teens worked to organize the events, adults stepped in to help with the logistics of the program, providing support while mindfully giving the students full reign of the project.

"All of us who have an active role in town have helped, but it's the young people who have done this," says Los Gatos Vice Mayor Steve Glickman, who helped the group obtain its website domain. "We've tried very hard to keep our role only as advisor, because it's very easy for adults to take over. We really encouraged the teens to take ownership of this, and I think they've done that. We just cheer them on. I think it's been an enormous success."

Now that the girls have the shows up and running, they are looking to organize a large performance on Sept. 20 at Oak Meadow Park to benefit several Tibet and AIDS foundations and are making plans for the upcoming year.

"After the big event, we hope to keep the program going, but it will be tough because three of us will be graduating," Kramer says. "But the shows are not going to die—this won't be the end. Hopefully we can train volunteers and continue this even when we are in college."

Giving time to the Alive music effort during the year won't be too much for the girls, however, as they have regularly devoted weeknights and weekends to coordinate the shows and make sure each one is a success.

"We've outlasted everyone," Fink says. "We really put in a lot of effort and probably worked the hardest of all the groups to make this happen."

"I feel like we've grown up so much in doing this," Kramer says. "We have fall-throughs all the time, and obstacles every week. It's definitely matured me, because we have a lot of responsibility. But it is so much fun. We love music and we love people."

Monday shows at Starbucks feature a variety of acoustic and solo musicians. Check the website for updates on Monday shows and performances at Vasona Lake. Future amphitheater shows include:

Aug. 14—The Basics, Out of Fiction, TRIP

Aug. 21—Fisher Five, Serena B., The Basics

Aug. 28—The Basics, Nothing Special, Los Wavones

For more information visit http://www.lgmusic.org or email alivenlovinglife@aol.com.