Six of Evanston’s top teenage musical acts bared their young souls on stage Sunday night.
The performers fought for the title at the second annual Evanston Teen Battle of the Bands, held at the Society for the Preservation of Art and Culture in Evanston, 1245 Chicago Ave.
Before a packed performance hall, the artists duked it out for prize money, recording studio time and a headline gig at S.P.A.C.E.
About 120 people visited S.P.A.C.E. for the event, topping last year’s attendance, said Emcee and Evanston Youth Coordinator Sol Anderson. The Evanston Youth Council, which plans to focus on anti-violence and health initiatives this year, organized the concert with cooperation from S.P.A.C.E. and the cultural center Boocoo Café, 1823 Church St.
“It’s an event for teens, these are just kids from throughout Evanston,” Anderson said.
Three all-male garage bands provided a parade of overdriven guitars and crashing cymbals. Sam Nicolosi, an Evanston Township High School freshman, greeted the audience with the opening line, “Tragedy remains the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning,” delivered behind straightened strands of black hair that covered his eyes.
Teenage trio White Noise rocked its way to a second place finish behind the half-sung, half-shouted vocalizations of sophomore guitarist Aaron Bloch.
The middle school quartet, This Kitchen is Snitchin’, covered Nirvana in a tribute titled “Smells Like Pre-Teen Spirit.” With a cream Fender Telecaster dangling dangerously below his waist, 12-year-old frontman Leor Miller assumed a wide rock stance, tilted his head back and delivered Kurt Cobain’s lyrics with a throaty adolescent roar. Lead guitarist Johan Tacke, 12, picked the two-tone lead riff behind a sleek black Jackson Warrior guitar, a Christmas present that consumed his slight frame.
The full-force teen garage bands hit a sentimental note with S.P.A.C.E. sound engineer Dan Glomski. Twisting knobs and checking volume levels, he recalled his high school years playing bass for an ’80s rock band, Snaketrain.
“Watching these guys reminds me of when I was young and had energy,” he said. “They have Nirvana, for us it was the Ramones.”
Three female acts countered the testosterone rock-fest with original material. AC Style sang with crossed arms over a catchy hip-hop beat. ETHS sophomores Hannah White and Jenna Rapisarda harmonized on the duet “Touch of Love” over White’s soft piano playing.
ETHS freshman Sakari Greenwell battled illness to impress the crowd with her youthful stage presence and original R&B songs. After melting hearts with a song dedicated to her parents, Greenwell commanded the audience to action, asking innocently, “Can everyone clap to this song?”
The performances were judged on originality, musicality and interaction with the crowd, said Boocoo Café Artistic Director Ted Sirota, who gave the young performers some artistic advice before announcing the winners.
Greenwell was swarmed by family and friends after her first-place victory and will perform a solo concert at S.P.A.C.E. White Noise and Hannah and Jenna each won Boocoo scholarships for $200, finishing second and third, respectively.
Keeping in mind that Sunday is a school night for the young artists, the youth council emphasized an early 6 p.m. start time, Anderson said.
Anderson said he expects Evanston Teen Battle of the Bands to return next year.
“It never ends. Music is bigger than all of us and it always is,” said Sirota. [email protected]
