VIDEO: The Kandoo Band 'Takes the Diss Out' of Disabilities

As elementary students file into the gym in Garwood, the Kandoo Band is in a tight huddle, as intently focused as a team about to take the field for the big game. 

Anne LeMieux Pocock, band manager and mom to bandmember Brendan, is pumping up the group of 20-somethings for their gig. When the circle breaks, all involved give a hug to singer/keyboardist Tori Ackley, who's mourning the recent death of her grandmother.

"They are there for me through the hard times, and I know they'll never leave my side," says Ackley of her bandmates.

As they perform their first song, a rendition of Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" that transitions into "Hound Dog," the Kandoo Band's talent becomes as obvious as their connections to one another. Frontman Bret Fleming, a Westfield resident, channels the King, bobbing and jiving and hitting all the "c'mon!"s and "uh huh!"s with enthusiasm.

What isn't obvious is that the members of the Kandoo Band suffer from Williams syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays and cognitive impairments. But maybe suffer is the wrong word – Williams syndrome is also characterized by striking verbal abilities, highly social personalities and an affinity for music.

"I've taken it as a gift and I've learned to accept it," says Brendan LeMieux, who plays drums, guitar, bass and does some vocals. "Although it is a disability, it does not define me as a person. I think the music I make and play with my bandmembers speaks for itself."

The band's mission is "to create, through musical performance, wider opportunities for, and respect for the aspirations of, persons with disabilities."

To say the group loves music is more than an understatement. The band's six members met through the Williams Syndrome Association and Belvoir Terrace Music Camp in Lenox, Massachusetts. They went on to college together at the Berkshire Music Academy, a post-secondary school in South Hadley for special needs students, and then formed the band in 2007.

"Jimi Hendrix once said 'Music is my religion,'" says guitarist and vocalist Lucas Wahl. "I believe music is my religion and is the religion of everyone else in this band."

In addition to Ackley, Fleming, LeMieux and Wahl, there's Robby Belknap (trumpet and bass) and John Libera (clarinet and sax). Pocock does it all, playing bass and rhythm guitar and serving as band mom, manager, roadie and webmaster. All the band members play multiple instruments, making the moments in between songs look like a musical chairs game as they swap around.

The "Kandoo" name was inspired by a Goethe quote: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

The band has performed throughout the tri-state at concerts, dances, fundraisers and educational performances, where they also provide elementary and middle-school pre-teaching materials. Last year, they were the winners of the first annual talent search for Best Buddies International, a nonprofit that works to create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They also have two of their original songs available for download on iTunes.

Today's performance was coordinated by Stacie Miller, a Garwood resident who once taught Fleming at Westfield High School. "We got to know each other well and then I had a daughter and left high school and Bret went on to pursue his life," says Miller. "This spring we got in touch again after I was sent the video for the Best Buddies contest."

Miller then worked to bring the band to Garwood. The event was sponsored by the Garwood Special Education Advisory Board, the Education Foundation of Garwood and the class of 1983. The class of 1983 dedicated their sponsorship to the memory of a beloved classmate, Tom Gallison, who had been a musician and an actor.

The Kandoo setlist included some of the band's originals including, "Take the Diss Out," a song created in support of the "Spread the Word to End the R-Word" campaign. In addition to their own songs, the Kandoo Band covered hits like Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours," and Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway." They closed with Fleming rocking out on Coldplay's "Viva La Vida." (See our video, above right).

"For people who want to go out there and do something, don't let it come to you," says Fleming. "You go and get it yourself."

Check out the Kandoo Band's official website and download their original songs on iTunes, here.