Published: April 02, 2008 01:13 pm            

MUSIC: NU to host high school showcase

A battle among high school students is brewing, but the weapons of choice will be guitars, drums and the occasional trombone.

Niagara University’s High School Band Showcase will pit five rock bands of high school students against each other Friday for a $300 gift certificate toward new gear and two hours of studio time.

The bands will be judged on originality, stage presence, quality of musicianship and crowd reaction.

Though the bands are mostly performing original songs they’ve written, some in Friday’s lineup are debating whether to go with a cover for their 20-minute set.

“They can play original or cover songs, and that’s an interesting thing in and of itself because of the strategy,” said Fred Heuer, organizer of the event. “‘Which songs am I going to play that the crowd will like?’”

Even though there is only one top prize to be won, the event is positive, offering young bands a chance to play a big venue in front of their friends, family and a new audience, Heuer said.

“We treat them very professionally,” he said. “Before they go on, we have a green room they wait in. It’s a nice situation where their friends can come out and they kind of feel like rock stars.”

So without further adieu, let’s meet these rock stars.



Abominable Killer Snowmen, Niagara-Wheatfield

• LINEUP: Alec Dube, drums, vocals; Jake Dullen, tenor saxophone; Seamus McDonell, baritone saxophone; Ricky Coates, trumpet; Joe Goehle, trombone; Eric Equils, guitar, vocals; Jason Roman, bass, vocals; Eric Richardson, lead guitar

• ONLINE: myspace.com/aksska

• GENRE: Ska

• SOUNDS LIKE: A cross between Less Than Jake and Catch 22

• SECRET WEAPON: Unpredictability

What started as a trio of drums, bass and saxophone — formed only so the members could compete in their school’s high school band competition three years ago — has grown into the eight-piece Abominable Killer Snowmen.

“We figured, why not do something nobody else is doing?” says Dube, a founding member.

It’s worked out for them pretty well. Over the past couple years, the band has landed several first- and second-place spots in local high school battles. Their killer ammunition, they say, stems from their unique ska and jazz influences.

Whether it’s what Dube calls “sporadic choreography in the horn section,” or an open section in a song allowing the band to use a different solo than they did at the previous show, the band keeps their performances fresh for the audience.

“You’re not going to see the same show twice with us,” Goehle said. “There’s always something new.”

The brass-laden band knows going into Friday’s showcase, like their past performances, they’ll be up against mostly harder rock acts. But that’s perfect for standing out in the audience’s — and the judges’ — minds.

“It’s nice to be something different at all these shows,” Eric Richardson says.



Black Dog, Lewiston-Porter

• LINEUP: Erin Klettke, vocals; Brian Naus, guitar; Jason Garfinkel, bass; Ryan Ankenbauer: drums

• ONLINE: myspace.com/blackdogmyspace

• GENRE: Alternative rock

• SOUNDS LIKE: “A little bit of everything” mixed with Paramore and Cute Is What We Aim For

• SECRET WEAPON: Youthfulness

With three of its members in ninth grade and one in eighth grade, Black Dog is easily the youngest band competing. But they’re used to that feeling by now.

Klettke recalls playing previous shows where other bands were surprised to see how young Black Dog is.

“I remember at Club Infinity, we played against people who were just out of college and they were old,” she says.

With their competitors Friday ranging from high school sophomores and up, it’s par for the course. It may even be the thing that sets them apart.

“We’re younger than them, but we can play just as good,” Naus says.

The band echoes the same feelings about having a girl lead the band amidst a competition filled with guys.

“It’s definitely different,” Klettke says.

Competition is fun, but they admit they would love to win the top prize to buy some new gear. The band has sought new speakers and mics, and hit the studio to record.

Win or lose, Black Dog won’t be stopping anytime soon, Naus says: “They’re all my best friends, and it’s better than sitting home and doing nothing.”



Friendly Fire, Niagara Falls

• LINEUP: Mike Smith, guitar, vocals; Brett Smith, bass, vocals; Patrick Copelin, drums

• ONLINE: myspace.com/friendlyfire716

• GENRE: Psychedelic rock, blues

• SOUNDS LIKE: A modern take on The Doors and Led Zeppelin

• SECRET WEAPON: None yet — “just good music”

Friendly Fire, the newest band in the showcase at just more than a month in existence, wants to have fun.

When asked why they signed up for the showcase, they look to each other and shrug.

“I guess we were just bored,” Mike Smith says as they laugh and agree.

It’s that same kind of impulsiveness that brought the band together. Mike Smith didn’t know Brett Smith two months ago but had heard he was a good bass player.

“He came up to me and said, ‘Are you Brett?’ Brett Smith says. “I was like, ‘Yeah,’ and he was like, ‘Dude, come to my house and jam.’ I said, ‘All right.’ ”

Brett Smith and Copelin were already friends and the three became a band. They’ve already written about 10 songs, they say — a result of their varied approach to writing. Some songs start as poetry. Other songs start as a rhythm or riff.

All three are going to college for music and hope to stick together.

“We’re trying to make it as a band,” Brett Smith says. “Even if we never make it as a band, it’s a great experience. We’re definitely trying really hard. It’s good because we all learn something new about each other, and it’s fun.”



The Sleepless City, Grand Island

• LINEUP: Craig Perno, lead vocals, guitar; Travis Perno, drums; Cody Hogrewe, bass; Drew Lazelle: guitar, vocals

• ONLINE: myspace.com/thesleeplesscity

• GENRE: Garage rock

• SOUNDS LIKE: The Vines, Arctic Monkeys, Supergrass and other overseas garage band imports

• SECRET WEAPON: Vocal harmonies

The Sleepless City is a new band of relative pros. Each of the members have been playing music for about eight years, but as a band they’ve only been together about six months.

Still, that’s been enough time for them to write eight original songs to bring to battle Friday. Their special ammo, they say, is their harmonized vocal melodies.

“I’d probably say it’s the most important thing,” says Craig Perno, the head songwriter for the group. “It just adds more depth to the song rather than just a straight-out melody like most things.”

Craig Perno and Lazelle have to set aside extra time just to sit down and practice their harmonies.

“Originally it’s really hard to do because you have to tune the other person out and stay in the same pitch,” Craig Perno says.

Though all the members have played a number of venues, from Club Infinity to friend’s parties, the NU showcase will be their second stage performance together. They’re hoping for a good crowd.

“When you have a show where people are into it, you don’t feel like you’re being watched,” Lazelle says. “You feel like they’re a part of it.”

The band agrees that positive feedback definitely makes performing worth it. Or as Craig Perno puts it: “It’s like getting an A in school.”



Stoney Curtis, North Tonawanda

• LINEUP: Adam Becker, lead guitar, vocals; Dave Rudolph, bass; Tyler Mendola, vocals, drums; Alec Wingert, rhythm guitar

• ONLINE: myspace.com/stoneycurtisnt

• GENRE: Screamo, post-hardcore

• SOUNDS LIKE: Love Hate Hero, Bless The Fall and other non-mainstream bands that don’t get radio airplay

• SECRET WEAPON: Crowd interaction

Stoney Curtis’ sound is probably not be the most accessible of the NU showcase’s lineup — and that’s all right with them.

“We’re going for a genre that doesn’t like any genre you hear on the radio right now,” Rudolph says.

The band listens to (and thus makes music within) a relatively new genre called “screamo,” which has roots in punk and hardcore rock. As the name suggests, there’s some screaming involved, but it’s not as easy as it seems, according to the band.

“It takes practice,” Mendola says. “It’s not something that just anybody can do.”

He also has some advice: “If it hurts (your throat), then you shouldn’t do it.”

The band is mostly interested in making music to have fun — and that is evident in their live performances, they say.

“We like to have fun and move around a lot,” which includes getting off the stage to dance with the crowd, Rudolph says.

The band has started recording a demo at a professional studio but says their motivation is largely just seeing what new music they create and play together.

“We’re trying not to dream too big,” Mendola says. “It’s mostly for the fun — I’d try to make it my career, but it’s mostly for the fun.”



IF YOU GO

• WHAT: Niagara University High School Band Showcase

• WHEN: 8 to 11 p.m. Friday

• WHERE: Niagara University’s Gallagher Center, Lewiston

• MORE INFORMATION: Call 285-1212

        

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