The Corner 3 New Year's Eve Ball

The local alt-rock trio Corner 3 formed only in 2007, but the band is based on a longtime friendship, begun when the trio's members were students at Columbus High in the Eighties. Frontman/guitarist/keyboardist John Lopez and bassist/vocalist Rick Sanchez began their music collaboration while still in school, and over the years have played together in a number of groups. (The threesome is rounded out by drummer Ivan Palma.)

According to Lopez, the band's name was partly inspired from basketball, the two founders' other passion. "Rick and I are both ex-ballers, and Corner 3 is a reference made when a player makes a three-pointer from the corner of the arc. It's a difficult shot," he says. "The second reason is because we are a three-piece band and we somehow always end up performing in the corner of a room."

The band's strength stems from the members' tight three-part harmonies and strong, well-crafted arrangements, as heard on the debut disc, Three Sheets to the Wind. The songs boast a radio-friendly flavor, especially more upbeat numbers such as the infectious "Genuine Type." "We're looking for a Gavin DeGraw, James Morrison, Counting Crows type of vibe," Lopez says.

One thing the band doesn't seem to be concerned about is rivalry from similar groups. "There isn't much competition in town for our style of music," Lopez says. "Miami music is highly concentrated in hip-hop, Latin, or techno."