JCC Battle of the Bands Report

On Saturday, Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m., a possible 10 high
school bands will play half-hour sets. (By the way, being a member of
the Jewish faith is not a requirement.) Although not finalized, this
year’s lineup will likely include Jakarta, Seventeen Come Sunday, Lee
Terrace, The Study of Matter, Reckless Days, White Picket Fence, The
Daisy Chains and So Fast, So Numb, plus a few other as-yet-unconfirmed
acts.

 

Teenage wasteland: Bassist Jesse Smith (far left) and
vocalist Cameron Winfield (far right) with Prone to Feedback took the
2008 grand prize of the Jewish Community Center’s Battle of the Bands, scheduled to rock out again this Saturday.

Event organizer Lori Innella-Venne explains that the
JCC’s goal in hosting the battle is to give teenagers a fun, but safe,
avenue to explore their rock ambitions. “This is probably my favorite
event to put on here,” says Innella-Venne, who organizes many teen- and
child-oriented events at the center. “When I was in high school {as a
Long Island resident at the time) I would have killed to have something
like this is in my school and in my community. I loved live music, and
it was impossible at 16 to find places to hear it.”

Innella-Venne, who has been involved with the battle for
the past four years, says that the biggest challenge is getting the
word out to budding talents who might be interested in putting their
rock prowess to the test. “We’ve been working with a lot of area high
schools to find bands,” she says. “That’s how we find kids that have
been talented and interested. Then the bands really draw the crowd
themselves.”

This year’s battle features a grand prize of $200, but
according to Adam Bersani, the now-19-year-old guitarist for last
year’s winning group, Prone to Feedback, the money itself isn’t as
significant as the chance to blow out a crowd. “It’s a good opportunity
for young bands to get out and be heard,” he says. “It’s always fun
playing shows, and it’s fun getting out and getting all the young
musicians together.” Bersani has since graduated from Manlius Pebble
Hill School and now attends Ithaca College.

Sean Kelly, rhythm guitarist for first-time competitor
Jakarta, anticipates a similar, non-cometetive atmosphere this
Saturday. “We want a large audience with lots of screaming people,”
Kelly says.

Yet regardless of whether competition at the battle is
overshadowed by the fun and comradery it delivers, the JCC event has
jump-started the very real success of some well-known Syracuse bands.
Just ask hard rockers Dead Rose, which won third place during the 2004
contest; Dead Rose has since become a staple at the Inner Harbor Block
Party, one of the most-attended summer concerts series in the area. And
ska band Magic Goat, the 2007 victor, made it to the fourth of eight
rounds of the 2008 Syracuse New Times Syracuse Area Music Awards (Sammys) People’s Choice online vote, in addition to nationwide touring.

Drop Dead: Jimmy Falco performs at the Inner Harbor Block Party with his band Dead Rose, which took third place in the 2004 Jewish Community Center Battle of the Bands.  MATT MUMAU PHOTO

Innella-Venne says that the battle averages about 300
patrons, largely composed of the teen fans who root for bands from
their own high schools. She hopes that number will remain strong this
year, especially with the addition of a panel of judges: Jeremy
Johnston, one of the recording gurus at Skaneateles-based SubCat
Studios; Deaf Geoff, a Syracuse University student and the producer for
Marty and Shannon in the Morning on WWHT-FM 107.9 (Hot 107.9); and myself, the humble music editor of the Syracuse New Times.

Overall, Innella-Venne says that the battle gives teens a
chance to learn more about each other’s musical interests and to
network. “It’s definitely interesting to see because it’s such an
eclectic mix. Within a roster of 10 bands, 10 different genres might be
represented. Each band and its fan base is very unique, and they’re all
very supportive of one another.” 

General admission to the Battle of the Bands is $6, with
special VIP seating at $9. Enter the venue through the JCC’s sports and
fitness center entrance on Ridgecrest Drive. For more information, call
445-2040.