Bands ready to battle it out in Glendale Heights
Joe Corson decided earlier this year it was time for his band, Field of Vision, to play to a different beat.
The 19-year-old drummer and his bandmates agreed they should enter the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association's statewide Battle of the Bands competition, just to see what would come of it.
"We thought we should try something new," the Downers Grove man said. "We hadn't tried any battle of the bands before."
So on July 10, the pop-punk "happy hard core" band went to one of 26 area competitions - this one in Downers Grove - and, much to their surprise, won.
"Just the crowd participation and the environment, it was pretty cool," Corson said. "We did not expect to win at all."
Winners from each competition, which were held as far west as Oregon and as far south as Collinsville, then moved on to one of four regional competitions - including one this weekend in DuPage County.
For $5 fans can cheer on their favorite band Saturday at the Glendale Heights Aquatic Center, where Field of Vision and four other bands representing Geneva, Lisle, Warrenville and Wheaton will get 20 minutes each to catch the judges' interest.
Whoever does the best will advance to the final competition at the Illinois State Fair.
Bill DePue, program supervisor for the Village of Glendale Heights' Parks and Recreation Department, said the regional competition, which has been held at the aquatic center for a few years now, is always filled with lots of energy.
"Most of the bands at this point have a pretty good following and bring their own (fans)," he said. "It's an interesting combination of adults and their teenage friends."
He said a few hundred people are expected to attend.
"It's a great opportunity to see some young, local musical talent," he said. "We've got a good variety of music types."
The age range for band members is 12 to 21, and half the band must be no older than 19 by the time the state finals start.
Mike Gianatasio, state coordinator for the Battle of the Bands, said altogether more than 500 musicians compete.
"Every year it's gotten a little bit bigger," he said. "It's consistently growing and we're hoping to get more downstate."
And despite the battle having a very low budget, prizes are still awarded to state winners through donations and sponsorships.
Gianatasio said the state champions can expect to receive five hours of recording time and three hours of mixing in a studio, along with 100 buttons decorated with the band's logo to hand out to fans.
There is also talk of a guitar donation from Guitar Center and a burrito party from Chipotle.
The competition has driven Field of Vision to keep busy, practicing 15 to 20 hours a week and heavily promoting their coming performance on MySpace and Facebook.
"We feed off the crowd's energy," Carson said. "We hope to have a really good crowd there."
Crowd participation, along with stage appearance and, of course, the quality of the music, will be a factor for all five bands Saturday. Those groups include the Rob Max Band from Geneva, Mammyth from Lisle, Anxiety from Wheaton and the winner from Warrenville's local competition tonight.
But, at the end of it all, organizers and musicians agree the battle is not about the prizes or winning - it's about what the kids learn about working as a team and how to improve at playing some rockin' tunes.
"It's not something they'll have to give up," DePue said. "Music is something they can continue to do for the rest of their life."
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>
<p class="News">What: Illinois Parks and Recreation Association's Battle of the Bands regional competition</p>
<p class="News">When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7 </p>
<p class="News">Where: Glendale Heights Aquatic Center, 250 Civic Center Plaza</p>
<p class="News">Cost: $5, free with Glendale Heights pool pass</p>
<p class="News">Info: (630) 260-6060 or <a href="http://glendaleheights.org" target="new">glendaleheights.org</a></p>