JHS Battle of the Bands Proves The Kids Are Alright

On Friday night, April 1, eight bands competed to be the victor in the Battle of the Bands at . At times, the appreciative crowd easily exceeded 400 people. Each of the bands played rock music, but overall, the selection of bands was quite eclectic. The various styles ranged from mellow to hardcore metal.

The first band up was Overdose, which played three covers, including "Respect" by Pantera, "Come Out and Play" by the Offspring, and "Sugar" by System of A Down. The band, which includes Robert Clark III, Ronnie Malinowski, Casey Ryan, Lync Lombardi, and Domenic DiCarlo, showed a lot of intensity and set the tone for the evening.

Next up was She Said That, which is fronted by guitarist Brianna White, along with Vinny Bellows, Bruce Farley, and Michael "Cobra" White. The group played all original songs, and reminded me of recent hit band Paramore, but a bit heavier.

Following She Said That was Sand, which played original instrumental pieces. The band members include David Cuddigan, Michael Huber, Ben Martin, and Devin Venditelli.

My award for best band name went to Please Don't Eat My Friends. The quartet of Anthony Borelli, Ricardo Garcia, Ian Dillon, and Dennis Labonte played original songs and turned in a solid performance.

In a night of great performances, Absence of Despair stood out. The band, which includes Cody Laflamme, Tyler Caruso, Brian Moulton, Mike Demers, and Billy Achille, did an outstanding job. The musicianship and charisma were second-to-none, and the excitement they generated amongst the audience was palpable.

One notable moment occurred when lead singer Cody LaFlamme demanded that everyone stand and come closer to the stage. For a moment, it seemed more like I was watching a national act at Lupo's, than a performance at Johnston High.

Next up was Autumn I Fall, which includes Adriana Carlson on vocals, and Adam Baffoni on ukelele (yes, ukelele!). Their cover of Green Day's "Poprocks and Coke" was one of my favorites of the evening.

Following Autumn I Fall was The Gentlemen. If you have attended any performances by the Johnston Dance and Performing Arts (J-DAPA) group, then its members are likely familiar to you: Rob Bishop, Kody Fraser, Bryan Kolodziejczak, and Avery Broccoli. The Gentlemen covered songs from Franz Ferdinand, The Raconteurs, and Led Zeppelin. One of the most impressive moments of the night was Avery Broccoli's solo during their cover of Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker."

The Gentlemen were followed by The Moose Progress, which includes members Greyson Davison, Ben Martin, and David Cuddigan. They played instrumental pieces, and exhibited a very unique sound.

The evening concluded with a set by last year's champion Bakerfield. The band, which includes members Andrew Marrapese, Samuel Little, Vinny Vinacco, and Steve Nelson, showed why they were the reigning champs. Their set included original material, instrumentals, and terrific cover of Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street."

Despite all the talent on stage, there could be only one winner. She Said That claimed the top prize, with Absence of Despair finishing second, and The Gentlemen finishing third.

Watch JohnstonPatch later today for video from the performances at Battle of the Bands.