Awesome bands, abyssmal audience at battle

When you go to a rock concert, whether at an arena or a small club, you expect it to be filled to the brim with teens or 20-something year-olds ready for a blow-out-your-ears show, and bands who are ready to deliver.

At the Sexploration Club’s first Battle of the Bands, held last Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Handy Campus Center, the bands delivered a high-energy rock concert. It was just that there was barely anyone to deliver it to.

Nine different bands came ready to compete against each other for cash prizes. First place received $100, second place $50 and third place $25.

Each band was to perform two songs apiece and their performance was to be judged by three student judges. Plenty of talent was on view for the handful of people who showed up to cheer on the bands.

The first  band to perform that night, An Orchestra Cinematic, was a twosome made up of a bassist and drummer. The duo played strictly instrumental music with no vocals.

Their sound was very dreamy and ethereal. Both musicians were so talented that they didn't need a vocalist or any additional instruments to enhance their performance.

The duo returned for the second act of the night, Thoughts in Frame. The band has a heavier sound. The singer had a fast and upbeat stage presence and his voice has a definite punk-rock feel.

The third act of the night, Gun Metal Groove, sounded even heavier  than the one before it. The four-piece band featured two guitarists, one of which also was the lead singer. They were perhaps the most dynamic musically, with the lead guitarist playing at an almost professional level for his age.

One other highlight of the show was the first female fronted-band of the night, Crossed Keys. The quintet having all of the swagger and bravado expected from a hard rock band.

When the night ended, three bands took home the cash: Crossed Keys in first place,

Stir-fry and the Hammerheads in second place and Thoughts in Frame in third place.
While all of the bands battled with great enthusiasm, it was hard not to feel disheartened by the lack of a sizeable audience.

“Getting the bands from all over the place was pretty difficult. It was a lot of work,” said Sexploration Club member Ashley Mandeg.

“The turnout may not have been what we were hoping for, but I would definitely do it again,” she said.

Likewise, none of the bands seemed to mind playing for a small crowd. With the walls of the Campus Center lined with tables selling each of the band’s merchandise, the bands had more than one opportunity to expose their music to Citrus students.

“It was a good event and a good way for us to promote our band,” said Adrian Aguilar, drummer for Thoughts in Frame and the only Citrus student in the band. “Everyone our age is our fanbase and people our age come here every day to go to school.”

Nikola Simikic, lead guitarist for Thoughts in Frame, said that he plans to perform in a band for a living and that small crowds are just a part of climbing the ladder of success.

“Playing in this event was really enjoyable because we competed against a lot of talented bands,” Simikic said. “It helps us get that much closer to being discovered, every little bit does.”