Friendly Battle

By Ian Hill
Record Staff Writer
Published Thursday, June 2, 2005

STOCKTON — For many Stockton musicians, it’s not whether you win or lose when you perform in a battle of the bands.

It’s just that you get to perform.

"It’s cool just to play a venue and support the scene," said Ed "Tries" Bonilla, singer for punk band The Nice Tries. Ted Swearingen, vocalist for rockers Morse, added "We’re not really into it for the competition. You’d probably be hard-pressed to find a band doing it for the competition."

Battles of the bands are booming locally, as six battles have been founded in the last three years. A monthlong battle starts tonight at Fat’s Bar and Grill, while the one-night Miracle Mile Showdown battle is set for Friday at Stockton Civic Auditorium. Sutter Street Cafe also is tentatively set to start its month-long battle on Saturday.

The third annual battle at the 180 Teen Center in Lodi is scheduled for July 16.

University of the Pacific’s KPAC student radio sponsored its first-ever battle in April, while Tracy held its third-annual battle in March.

"There’s a lot of young bands in the area, a lot of garage-type bands that are looking for a venue, a place to play. They’ve come to us, and we’ve given them opportunities," said Brad VanderHamm, executive director of the 180 Teen Center.

Battles feature several musicians giving short performances. Either a panel of judges or the audience determines the winner, who typically receives a cash prize.

"I’m not going to lie, winning that prize would be nice ... (but) it’s just another show. We should play to have fun," said Jon Gretsinger, singer for rock band the Lobstrosities.

The Lobstrosities, Morse and The Nice Tries are among the 13 bands performing at the inaugural Miracle Mile Showdown, which will benefit the Miracle Mile Improvement Association. Bill Berlin, the association’s vice president, said the decision to hold the contest was motivated by the needs of both the association and local musicians.

While the association needs money, local musicians need more places where they can perform, he said. Several musicians have expressed concern that the number of venues for local bands is dwindling.

"When I was a kid, there were punk shows every weekend. It seems like there’s nothing anymore," said Bonilla, 32. "There’s so much talent in Stockton that’s untapped."

Gretsinger added that if a large audience shows up for the battle at the Civic Auditorium, which has a capacity of 1,200, it would demonstrate that there is an audience for local music. The battle’s winner will receive $1,000, studio time, and the opportunity to film a music video.

Theresa Meharg, general manager of Fat’s, said she hopes to promote local talent through her bar’s battle, which is in its second year and will include Morse and The Nice Tries.

"Every single night we had it [last year] we were packed," she said.

The contest calls for three bands to perform on each of the first four Thursdays in June. The best bands from those performances will battle on June 30, with the winner receiving studio time and a $500 gift certificate to Music Go ‘Round.

Rock band New World Machine won last year’s battle at Fat’s.

"We love playing music in front of anybody, so any time we have the opportunity [we do it]," said singer George Greaves.

Both Ron Lozano, owner of Sutter Street Cafe, and Jolene Jauregui, the city of Tracy’s recreation coordinator, said their battles were designed in part as positive events where young people can hang out. The Sutter Street battle will have the same format as the battle at Fat’s, except that four bands will be performing every Saturday in June.

Several local rock bands also are competing against thousands of other musicians around the country in an on-line battle to win music equipment. Those bands include The Nice Tries, 100 Down, Eyes Like Audre, Nideit, The Skitzo Crew, A Tendency to Fracture, and Elaborate Hoax, all of Stockton; A Fallen October and Anna Byasis of Manteca; Full Submersion and Illuminate of Ione; These Words Kill and Stadium Drive of Lodi; Ann Arbor of Galt; Bel Air Academy of Tracy; and The Naughty Spots of Angels Camp.

Don Gomez, bassist and singer for 100 Down, said his band decided to compete in the battle in part because it was free and easy to enter, and that it only required the band to submit two MP3s and short biography to the Web site.

"I just thought, there’s really nothing to lose by entering it, you can only gain something," Gomez said.

Voting begins June 25. To vote, hear songs by competitors, or for more information, visit www.battleofthebands.com.

Contact reporter Ian Hill at (209) 943-8571 or ihill@recordnet.com