'Against The Sun' Wins Battle Of The BandsWhile some bands were "Livin' on a Prayer" Thursday in the 2011 Battle of the Bands, it was a hardcore rock group that was the "Taker" of the $500 first-place prize money.
With 86 votes, Against the Sun won the five-band competition at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center. They performed two original songs, "3rd and Delaware" and "Taker", as well as a cover of Paramore's "Misery Bruises".
Members of the band include Gavin Hope, Cade Carter, Carly Quiroz, Mark Wagley, Patrick Wight and Sam Carter.
First place received $500, with $200 going to second place. Rex's Rendezvous, Warsaw, provided part of the prize money.
Winners of the 2009 Battle of the Bands, Beyond the Puppet, came in second this year. The band performed for the fourth and final year. Their music was heavy, progressive and classic rock with a little jazz thrown in, and mostly original songs.
As a tribute to the recently retired Phil Collins, Beyond the Puppet played a funked-up cover of "That's All" by Genesis.
The audience voted on who won with their $5 ticket. Each ticket was one vote. Proceeds from the annual event benefit the Band Boosters.
An independent judge, John Finken, from the local bands CODA and Moxie, chose the best instrumentalist. Once again, that $50 prize money went to drummer and senior Curtis George.
The other three bands that performed Thursday night included Joo han Kim, Space Dragon and LCM.
Joo han Kim started out with an original song, then covered "Cosmic Love" by Florence + The Machine. The group also covered Muse's cover of "Feeling Good".
Space Dragon, who won the Battle in 2010, continued their concept performance with the story of the death of the Space Dragon. They also performed the first of two covers of Jon Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer".
It was mostly 1980s songs for LCM. They covered "Come On, Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Your Love" by the Outfield and Jet's "Are You Going to be My Girl?" They concluded their set with "Start Me Up/Livin' On A Prayer", the "Glee" version.
