Five years. Hundreds of musically minded teens. One dream. The fifth annual Arizona Daily Star Battle of the Bands is Friday night at the historic Rialto Theatre. High school students from all over Southern Arizona have been gearing up for the competition since October. If previous battles are any indication, the Downtown theater will rock with a full house of cheering peers (and parents).
Twenty-nine groups and artists from Southern Arizona entered the Arizona Daily Star’s 2008 Battle of the Bands, and on Dec. 20, six finalists were announced:
Salpointe Catholic High School’s acoustic duo Jon and Jeff, Tucson High Magnet School’s ska-rockers Monterey, Flowing Wells High School’s hard rockers Paul Revere, University High School’s pop-punks The Shaw, St. Gregory College Preparatory School’s folk-pop duo Mirror Image and Tucson High prog-rockers The Thesis.
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The contest climaxes Friday when a panel of judges will declare a winner after a 15-minute performance from each band. The grand prize includes a daylong recording session aboard the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. Last year’s winner, Kool Shades, will open this showcase of emerging talent. The rocktastic evening will be hosted by Gaslight Theatre’s Robert Shaw.
Here is all you’ll need to know going into Friday’s monster competition.
The Shaw
Patrick Spencer, singer.
Age: 18.
School: University High School senior.
Quick take: Pop-punk band, consisting of members Spencer, Andre Matlock, Ken Williams, Josh Cawthorne and Thomas Gonzalez.
When did your band form?
"We weren't actually the five of us now until junior year, so about a year ago."
How often do you guys play out and where?
"We used to play at Skrappy's a lot (Skrappy's doesn't host live music anymore). So lately we've been playing at Dry River and The Living Room and The Rock."
What are your influences?
"Like bandwise, or like lifewise?"
Both.
"I guess lifewise, I would just say, all the crap that everyone goes through in high school. And bandwise, for me, it's bands like Blink-182 and Sum 41."
What are your thoughts about the Battle of the Bands?
"We're just really excited to be a part of it. Playing on a big stage like this is something we've always wanted to do. It's the highlight of what we've done as a band. So it's nice after a few years, it's finally paid off."
The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?
"The Beatles. Just because that's the music when we went on road trips with our family. We would just put in old Beatles tapes. And drives to California were just filled with lots and lots of Beatles tunes, singing along with my Mom and my Dad."
Mirror Image
Andrea and Juliet Wilhelmi, singers and guitarists.
Age: 16.
School: Sophomores at St. Gregory College Preparatory School.
Quick take: Twin sister folk-pop duo.
How did you develop the band?
Andrea: "We got guitars for Christmas about four years ago and we just started writing songs together because it seemed like the natural thing to do."
Did you take voice lessons or did you just always know you could sing?
Andrea: "We've been singing for as long as I can remember."
Do you two ever fight over songs?
Andrea: "Oh, of course not (laughs). Yeah, there's a lot."
Juliet: "The creative process can be interesting."
Is there a sibling rivalry?
Andrea: "I guess to some degree with the originals."
What are your thoughts about the Battle of the Bands?
Andrea: "We're just in it to have fun. We're kind of amazed we got this far. I just think it's really neat to hear everybody. There's a lot of different sounds."
What are your goals for 2008?
Andrea: "So far it's just Battle of the Bands. And just to keep playing and performing."
What's the best song ever written?
"I Will" by the Beatles. We just decided that now."
The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?
Juliet: "Beatles, Beatles, Beatles."
Andrea: "Well, the Stones are pretty cool, too, but they need to retire."
Jon and Jeff
Jeff Evans, singer and guitarist.
Age: 17.
School: Tucson High Magnet School junior.
Quick take: Formed in 2006, Jon and Jeff is like a teen version of Simon and Garfunkel, with comedy thrown in. The other member is Jon Plaza, who attends Salpointe Catholic High School.
How often do you perform and where?
"We play wherever we can. Over the summer we were up in Idaho and we would just play the streets every night. We made a bunch of money."
What were you guys doing in Idaho?
"(Jon's) parents bought a house up there and we were working at the house and getting paid by them to help build the house. And then at night we'd go play on the streets and play some clubs."
What are your thoughts about the battle?
"Last year was probably one of the best experiences I've ever had. Standing up there with people screaming and people just appreciating what you do, even if they're just there to hear the loud dance bands. They're there in front of you and they listen to what you have to play."
Goals for 2008?
"Play as much as we can before we split up."
So is that definitely happening then?
"Jon is going off to college, so he'll be out of town. We might continue playing music, because with two of us it's easy. But as a band, Jon and Jeff probably won't be around next year."
What's the best song ever written?
"She Said She Said" on "Revolver" by the Beatles. And "Say It Ain't So" on "The Blue Album" by Weezer.
Beatles or the Rolling Stones?
"The Beatles. They really revolutionized rock 'n' roll."
The Thesis
Jeremy Kneller-Hernandez, singer and guitarist.
Age: 16.
School: Tucson High Magnet School junior.
Quick take: Formed around 2006, The Thesis is an eight-piece prog-rock outfit. Its members are Kneller-Hernandez, Andrew Dunn, Jack Mandish, Connor Button, Nick Bunch, Ryan Theodore, Brian Hanshaw and Josh Cook.
When you guys play shows, where do you play?
"Usually at The Living Room, sometimes at The Rock. But sometimes we'll play parties. . . . Skrappy's used to be our main place to play."
Influences?
"Radiohead influenced us a lot. For me, people like John Lennon. John Lennon just made a difference in this world. I just kind of want to make a difference with my music. Bob Marley, of course. Sufjan Stevens is another one, too. And, of course, Bob Dylan."
What are your thoughts going into the battle?
"We're confident, but I just want to get up on that stage again. Playing at the Rialto was just . . . the feeling of being on there, in front of those people, it touched me. This year, I'm watching out for Monterey because they sound real good. And also, Mirror Image, they're impressive. They got good voices: power lungs."
Goals for 2008?
"Probably a tour in the summer."
Beatles or Rolling Stones?
"The Beatles were so much more poetic than the Rolling Stones. But the Rolling Stones put on a hell of a show. Ah man, that's a hard decision. I'm going to have to say The Beatles."
Greatest song ever written?
"'Opposite Day,' by Andrew Bird. Because today my mind has just been hooked on that song."
Paul Revere
Mason Betz, guitarist and singer.
Age: 18.
School: Flowing Wells High School senior.
Quick take: Hard rock quartet made up of Betz, Austin Keyes, Tony Perry and Tohbi Lundergan.
When did the band get together?
"We've been together for about four years now in March."
How often do you play out?
"Once or twice a month. We play at The Living Room, and then just random gigs around town that we grab. We actually just recently played a Chuy's (6310 E. Tanque Verde Road) and that was one of the funnest gigs we've played."
Thoughts going into the battle?
"We wish everyone good luck. We're just excited to be in this, our last and final year, and we're hoping this year to finally win it. We're all really excited because this is the show we all really get excited for because it's (at) the Rialto."
Goals for 2008?
"Definitely plan a tour and we're all debating whether or not we should move to possibly a different state or city."
Best song ever written?
"Brightest" from Copeland.
Beatles or Rolling Stones?
"Beatles, definitely. They're the damn Beatles, man."
Monterey
Phillip Valine, trombone.
Age: 19.
Status: University of Arizona freshman (most of the band is from Tucson High Magnet School).
Quick take: Dancey ska-pop outfit with members Valine, Jeff Evans, Jon Plaza, Peter Lacovara, Cordero Kingsley, Dillon Mendez and Andrew McIntyre.
Could you tell me how Monterey got together?
"It actually started at a benefit concert at Marana High School. Jeff (Evans) had written a song and he wanted to put a horn line to it. So me and him got together — this was last year — and we worked out all the details."
Do you guys play out very often and where?
"We've played a couple gigs at The Living Room. And we've played at Dry River."
Influences?
"Besides Jeff Evans? I'm just loving writing and playing music with him. Jeff just comes up with some great stuff. He's just got great energy."
What are your thoughts going into the battle?
"Some girl said to me, 'Who do you think is your greatest competition in this Battle of the Bands?' And I was like, 'Um . . . uhhhh . . .' And I said, 'The audience.' I want to get everybody dancing. That's our goal. I was talking to Jeff, and I was like, 'If everyone's dancing, and everyone's having a great time and everyone enjoys it, then we've won, in my mind.'"
Best song ever written?
"I'd have to say it's 'The Greatest Song in the World,' (as described in Tenacious D's 'Tribute')."
Beatles or Rolling Stones?
"Beatles. They're just a lot chiller."
If you go
• What: Arizona Daily Star's Battle of the Bands.
• When: 7 p.m. Friday.
• Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.
• Cost: $2 donation.
• More info: AZNightbuzz.com.
Sponsors
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
The Chicago Store
Southwest Guitar Studio
KFMA (92.1- and 101.3-FM)
KLPX (96.1-FM)
KXCI (91.3-FM)
Solar Rock Festival
NAMM
Apple
Crate
Ampeg
Disc Makers
Godin Guitars
Maxell USA
