Maika Maile, guitarist and vocalist for Florida rockers There for Tomorrow, is looking forward to coming to Utah.

One reason is that he has a lot of family and friends who live in Salt Lake City.

"My father is Tongan and is related to a lot of people in the Tongan community there in Salt Lake," Maile said during a telephone interview from his home in Orlando, Fla. "He's also a performer and has performed at Disneyland in California and here at Disney World."

Maile took cues from his father when it came to wanting to be an entertainer.

"I had always seen him perform and thought it was cool," he said.

However, Maile had different ideas as to which type of art he would pursue."When I was 6 years old, I bought Metallica's 'Black' album with my own money," he said. "I wanted to play guitar as long as I remember. But when you're that young, from 6, 7 and 8 years old, you really don't have what you would call goals for your future.

"It's kind of like when a kid dresses up in a police uniform and plays cops and robbers with toy guns," he said. "That's how I think I looked at playing guitar."

Still, as fate would have it, Maile learned how to play the guitar and wanted more.

"Music is my first love," he said. "And when I got together with like-minded people, it all began to take shape."

There for Tomorrow formed in 2003 with Maile, drummer Christopher Kamrada and bassist Jay Enriquez. The band then recorded the independent album "Point of Origin."

In 2006, the band added guitarist Christian Climer, met producer Paul Wisner (who has worked with Underoath) and recorded an extended play called "Pages."

After playing around Orlando and making a name for itself, TFT was asked to be part of the 2006 and 2007 Vans Warped Tours.

In 2008, TFT released its self-titled extended play, also produced by Wisner, and last June it released the new full-length CD "A Little Faster."

Maile said recording the CDs is like a snapshot of where the band is on the road to success.

"The CDs are what's between the starting line and the finish line," said Maile. "And the finish line is in the future. In fact, the future is all that's there, right?"

If you go

What: Hit the Lights, There for Tomorrow, Fireworks, Sparks the Rescue, This Time Next Year

Where: Club Sound, 579 W. 200 South

When: Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m.

How much: $15

Phone: 801-467-8499, 800-888-8499

Web: www.smithstix.com

e-mail: scott@desnews.com