Tulsa World: That's a rap

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

Home > News > Article

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

That's a rap
Electro-funk-hip-hop act Lupercus takes top honors at Cain's Ballroom

Shabaka Guillory works the crowd as his band, Lupercus, gives its winning performance. LAUREN RUTHERFORD / SatelliteCorrespondent

By ANITA JOSHI Satellite Correspondent
Published: 4/13/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 7/31/2009 1:24 PM

It was 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and the first two fans had already lined up at the black metal doors of Cain's Ballroom for the city's most prestigious high school music competition of the year.

Six bands. Weeks of preparation, practicing and perfecting, all in the hopes of achieving that title — winner of the fifth annual Satellite Battle of the Bands.

The stakes are high. First place takes home a $1,500 gift card from Saied Music and wins a full day of recording aboard the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. The Bart Betow Memorial People's Choice winner gets a check for $500. Other winners will get gift cards, instruments — the list goes on.

As the afternoon wore on, the line outside of Cain's evolved into a block-long queue down Main Street as eager fans, family and bystanders waited in anticipation for the show.

Among those in the crowd was former contestant Brady Tacket, who performed with Big Sleep in the battle last year.

"This night is the night I've been waiting for my entire life!" he joked. "It feels really good to be back yet really weird. My buddy Sam DesPrez of Feedback was in my band last year so I'm just coming to see him, pretty much."

His friend, Paul Pollen, added, "The Battle of the Bands is a great way to see how the Tulsa music scene is progressing. It's awesome, seeing friends we've known for years coming out and presenting their music."

Meanwhile, inside, the five competing bands took turns sound-checking. They entertained themselves

with an inflatable monkey, Frisbees, a razor scooter and even Ouija boards. Although all the bands expressed some nervousness at the thought of performing, the excitement in the ballroom dominated the pre-show atmosphere.

"I'm most excited about the crowd's reaction when we step onstage; when people cheer and go crazy because you're out there," said Brandon Beach of Restless Ribbon. "Being the first band in the lineup, we get to experience that reaction first."

Nicholas Foster of Keyless Entry said, "I'm most excited about the exposure. I'm just psyched about this many people getting to hear our music. And the sound quality? They aren't hearing us in some rinky dinky shack. It's the Cain's. ... the premiere music place. The energy, the personality I'm just excited about being with the crowd."

Ben Perrault of Lupercus said, "I just like playing at Cain's 'cause it's bomb. And I'm excited that all our friends are coming to see us play. And they're ALL coming."

Brandon Wilson of Feedback said, "The best part of being in Battle of the Bands is just earning the right to play here because I know 36 bands have been in it. And it's just pretty prestigious to be chosen by the Tulsa World to play here."

Seven p.m. finally arrived, and as the doors swung open, hordes of fans rushed in, quickly occupying the ballroom. Judges filed in as fans flitted from table to table buying band merchandise and meeting up with friends. Backstage, the bands hunted for writing utensils and signed their names on the grafitti-covered hallway backstage.

At exactly 8 p.m., Satellite correspondent and emcees Annie Paige and Gus Lus walked onstage and introduced the first competing band. Edison Preparatory School's Restless Ribbon took the stage, greeted by hundreds of fired-up Tulsa teens, all screaming in unison.

The crowd was receptive to Restless Ribbon's upbeat pop sound, dancing along to Chase Stite's energetic lyrics about his ex-girlfriend leaving for college. The band's lyrics fused an experience that lot of teens can relate to with Tulsa references. Brandon Beach's power and energy on the drums emphasized the fun beat.

"I thought it was killer. I'm never going to forget it," Stites said after the set. "Just playing in front of so many people ... It was killer. It reassured us because people came up to us and said how great we are. It made me realize that this is what we need to be doing."

Next up was Keyless Entry, presenting a fun classic rock twist to the standard alternative style, and the crowd clapped along in earnest appreciation.

After performing their second song, triple threat vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist Joey Lavoi asked Holland Hall junior Emma Steele to prom — an invitation she accepted. Keyless Entry's last song, "Trashing the River Jordan," was written about humanity's disregard for the sanctity of nature. Lavoi, Jake Nonweiler and Nicholas Foster belted out the angst with such passion and connection that the crowd went wild at the song's finish.

"It was the first time that I ever played in front of that many people at a venue that well known," Lavoi said. "I'm really interested in pursuing music, and performing at the Battle really showed me that's what I want to do with my life."

Next up was Feedback, which brought a combination of silky vocals fused with a slower rock sound. The band's ability to retain an element of high energy while performing slower songs was impressive. Mixing a futuristic sound on keys with a tambourine to "Some Other Shore" brought an interesting vibe that set them apart from the other bands.

Afterward, guitarist Brandon Wilson said he felt positive about their set.

"After we got off stage we were approached by a guy who gave us his card who was a music producer. ... It was awesome knowing that someone legitimate who is in the business thought that we had potential. It was a pretty humbling experience."

Lupercus had the most original sound. Their ability to fuse electronica, jazz and rap — and still make it sound amazing — proves how talented this band really is. Shabaka Guillory rapped lyrics of the struggle to overcome and succeed, backdropped by the jazzy resonance of Adrienne Williams and Danielle Legrane on horns and Chris Akers' techno keys.

Guillory enticed the crowd, encouraging everyone to wave in unison.

"We've only collectively as a band practiced together a total of six times," said drummer Ben Perrault.

"The experience just made me more appreciative and humble," Guillory said. "Obviously, I've been given a gift, and God wants me to use it, and it makes people happy. It just makes me grateful that I've been blessed with this."

When the lights came up again, there was Abeo Cygnus, standing high on boxes, greeting the crowd in the fashion of a true metal band. Their music was intense and fast, as lead singer Ryan Welch screamed with impressive force.

Their metal dynamic was so powerful that a fan hopped onstage, danced, then stage dove once more into the crowd. Illegal mosh pits formed (and were consequently broken up by security), and multiple fans krumped, demonstrating the animation of the crowds response to Abeo Cygnus' music.

"I'm really sore," Welch said after the set. "My throat doesn't hurt or anything — it's just my body. It's a combination of thrashing onstage and standing from three till midnight. Apart from the physical, performing in front of that many people really boosts your overall confidence."

The last competing band, The Fiascos, brought a more relaxed, chill set in contrast to their predecessor. Jake Butts' powerful lyrics, combined with the easy strumming of an acoustic guitar, marked The Fiascos' set. As their music transforms from song to fast, the soulful vocals remain consistent throughout.

After all the bands had played, last year's winner Here is There performed 30 minutes of new music that the band has been working on over the past year.

The judges deliberated, and the crowd awaited the results.

Margo Basse and Katie Birnie, Cascia Hall students who have spent the last three years helping organize the Bart Betow Memorial People's Choice Award, announced this year's winner of $500 — Feedback of Riverfield Country Day School.

The emcees announced the final results of the night as the crowd pushed against the stage in anticipation.

Third place? "Abeo Cygnus!"

Second place? "Restless Ribbon!"

At that moment, a scattered shout went out and was taken up by most of the front row of fans — "Lupercus! Lupercus! Lupercus!"

How right they were — the emcees ripped open the last envelope of the evening and announced that the seven Booker T. Washington students were this year's first-place winners.

"I'm at a loss for words!" said lead vocalist Guillory. "I'm ecstatic, jubilant and in a great mood of celebration!"

The band spent the following day aboard the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, recording a CD and a music video.

"I'm very happy," said Ben Perrault.

"I love the Battle of the Bands more than anything in the world!"

BIG PRODUCTION

The fifth annual Satellite Battle of the Bands proved to be another sold-out show Saturday night at the Cain’s Ballroom.

The show featured six of Tulsa’s most talented high school-aged bands: Restless Ribbon of Edison, Keyless Entry of Holland Hall, Feedback from Riverfield Country Day School, Abeo Cygnus of Jenks and Bixby high schools,Lupercus from Booker T.Washington and The Fiascos of Memorial. They battled it out for cash and prizes, while last year’s winner, Here is There, closed out the show.

Judges for the event included Tulsa World music writer Jennifer Chancellor, assistant Spot editor Billy Berkenbile, singer/songwriter Danelle Phillips, rapper P.D.A. and local music man and promoter Matt Lip.

This annual event is conceived, planned and manned by the students of Satellite, who spend the better part of a year organizing the family-friendly event. From marketing to advertising the show to writing about and photographing the bands, the student journalists are responsible for the entire production.

Anita Joshi 581-8480
Jenks sophomore satellite@tulsaworld.com By ANITA JOSHI Satellite Correspondent

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

2 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

	Report Comment Cooldaddy, Broken Arrow (4/13/2009 1:56:53 PM) Congrats Lupercus! Hope that all goes well for your band.
	Report Comment M_Conners, Tulsa (4/14/2009 12:49:35 PM) Nice job.

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.