Chasing Pedestrians founders are (from left) Steven Gilmore, Michaela Amato and Chris Grunert.

By DAVID BORAKS

Fans of local, independent rock music will find a tasty treat Saturday night when Chasing Pedestrians takes the stage in the summer music series at Carrburritos Taqueria in Davidson. It’s a treat because while the band’s core members are all from Cornelius, they don’t get a chance to play much in their own back yard.

Vocalist/pianist Michaela Amato, guitarist Steven Gilmore and drummer Christopher Grunert began playing music together four years ago when they were students North Mecklenburg High School. Since then, they’ve developed unique sound, and attracted a following. It’s a vocal driven, sometimes rock, sometimes funk sound with danceable rhythms.

“We’ve all grown as musicians, and as people. When we were in high school we really didn’t know what we were doing at all. It was just fun,” Gilmore said in an interview behind Summit coffee in Davidson the other day.

Many young bands might have long ago broken up and gone their separate ways. In fact, the trio all have gone on to colleges – Amato to the University of Richmond, Gilmore to N.C. State and Grunert this fall moving to UNC Chapel Hill. But they’ve continued to play together once every couple of months during the school year, and to develop their music.

Summer has the band back together, and they’ve been playing regularly.

“In the past year or so, it’s still just as fun, but … I saw everyone improving a lot,” Amato said. “It was just a matter of playing music all the time, with as many people as we could. We all go to different schools,” she said.

They released a self-titled album in October 2010, and then came back in 2011 with a second three-song EP titled, appropriately, “Suddenly, We’re Older.” (You can listen at their website below.)

As they’ve committee to stay together, the band has continued to hone its sound and skills. “We all just got serious about it, personally, too, and we all brought new stuff to the table. It’s been exciting,” Amato said. “I feel like now we’re getting to the point where we’re performing more, instead of just getting together to play music.”

That’s a key point about Chasing Pedestrians. You’ll go for the music, but you’ll keep coming back for the show, where Amato captivates both with her intensity and her voice.

And the band loves the following it has gained, and the energy of its crowds. “I can’t say enough about audience. It’s so vital to what we do,” Amato said.

Carrburritos has become another key stop on the Lake Norman music scene in recent months, and its summer series has brought a variety of musical genres to town – from indie rock to jazz to blues to country – while also raising money for a cause. Ten percent of the proceeds of each show benefit a youth music program at Ada Jenkins Center, a regional community services center in Davidson.

Saturday’s gig begins at 9:30pm at Carrburritos, 445 S. Main St. Cover charge is $6.

For more about Chasing Pedestrians, and to hear more of their music, visit chasing pedestrians.bandcamp.com. See also their page on Facebook.com

They’ll also appear on WCNC-TV’s “Charlotte Today” Saturday morning.