Battle of the Bands: the Chance to Show off Talents and Celebrate Rock

Barnegat High School students cheered for their peers, as five bands rocked it last night at the fourth annual Battle of the Bands, organized by the High School’s Interact Club.

The sounds of electric guitar, drum beat and angst-y voices interspersed with calls and cheers as young musicians took the stage to celebrate music, show off their talents, raise money for community projects and have fun.

"Being here always gets us going,” said Matt Cox, 18, vocalist of “One Night Only,” the band that won the “battle” last night, for the second year in a row. “It’s always fun to be in front of people.”

“We’re not great at sports, some of us,” said Jesse Nokes, 17, who is the band’s drummer. “This gives us the chance to show our worth.”

“One of my really good friends is in one of the bands, and he’s really talented,” said Brandy Panfili, 15, who sat in the audience. “He can play almost anything: drums, the guitar. He’s also really funny, and fun. I’m here to support him.”

“I’ve been coming to this every year since like eighth grade,” said Cailee Weyrick, 16. “It’s really cool, watching all these people you know show off their talents.”

Jeremy Rotolo, 17, who is the member of a band called “Swag,” has been involved in all sorts of athletics, from football to track to wrestling, said his mother, Sandra Rotolo, who came to watch her son perform. “He’s just been really getting into creative activities, lately,” she said. “I’m very excited for him.”

The winning band, “One Night Only,” will get the chance to feature their music again soon. As part of their first-place prize, and for the first time in the competition’s brief history, the winner gets airtime and an interview on the local radio station, WBNJ 91.9 FM, in addition to a plaque, a $100 gift card, a $15 certificate to La Casa Mexican Restaurant and, maybe the
most fun and important prize of all – “bragging rights.”

At the end of the night Barnegat Interact raised $750, which the club will use to help local food pantries, said Melissa Mooney, the club’s advisor and Barnegat High School Biology teacher.