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Playing everything from emo and pop to classic and glam rock, five bands battled it out Wednesday.
The winning band of the Sixth Annual Warsaw Community High School Battle of the Bands was The Royal Nonesuch, who received $500 for first place with 141 votes. Second place, with 125 votes, went to Friday Night Collision, who received $200. A prize of $50 went to the best soloist of the night - Nick Walmer, guitarist for The Royal Nonesuch and also for Pope Constantine's Metaphysical Symphony of Bishops.
Other participating bands included Domestic Blend and One Last Try.
The Royal Nonesuch opened up their four-song set with a rocked-out version of the "Sesame Street" theme. Attired in dress shirts with ties, The Royal Nonesuch also played the Beatle's "Daytripper" and The Who's "My Generation." As "Daytripper" came to a close, Walmer played his guitar with his teeth, saying afterwards, "Tastes like freedom."
Other band members include Cyrus Felton on guitar, Eric Green on drums and Kyle Carter on bass guitar.
Felton said he and Green knew each other since fifth grade and they met Walmer in eighth grade. Carter was pulled into the band last year.
Describing their music, Felton said, "It's rock with a good old-fashioned twist."
They play just for fun as each plans to go on to college.
"We all love being on stage," said Felton. "That's what it's about for us."
Influences for Felton include Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Incubus. "It's all different."
Carter said, "I just listen to about any creative band," like The Blue Man Group, as well as the classics.
Green likes The Foo Fighters, Our Lady Peace and "anything classic."
Like many guitarists, Walmer cited his influences as Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. The whole playing-with-his-teeth bit, he said, was "actually spur of the moment."
As for winning the best soloist award of the night, Walmer said, "That was pretty awesome. I was surprised. It's a good feeling."
Battle of the Bands is a fund-raiser for WCHS' film club, according to sponsor Bill Kovach, WCHS teacher. The film club watches and critiques movies and makes their own two- to five-minute shorts. The short films are submitted to the Project XL contest and to EdCom.
Project XL is a creative arts competition by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, allowing high school authors, poets, artists, songwriters, filmmakers and performers the opportunity to express themselves on topics of interest and vital importance to Indiana teenagers. This is the 16th year Project XL has invited every Indiana high school student to express himself or herself on a relevant issue. The 2004-2005 Project XL topic is imagination.
EdCom is Warsaw Schools' annual demonstration of long-term and in-depth learning.
