Battles of the Bands...

I think that is the correct pluralization of that word. also, I'm not sure pluralization is actually a word, but I'm using it. deal with it. =]

anyway, I've been thinking about this sort of competition recently... I'm thinking that, while it's a cool opportunity for kids who can't play worth crap to look like fools on stage while "living the dream" of being a "rockstar" for three minutes (ohdeargodnotlongerthanthreeminutes, it's also just a way for kids who can play to show off their skillz. yes, their skillZ.

especially at Roncalli, the Battle of the Bands is largely based on popularity. Not that I had a problem with Jimmy Breeze and the Elevensies' rendition of Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" (actually, I liked it immensely), but if another band with kids who were just as talented did the same song just as well, but not as many people knew them/were friends with them/had a massive crush on the *insert position of band member here*, I'm not sure that they would have won over a band who had "popular" or well known kids in it. I don't know.

I think that the only way to have a truly fair Battle of the Bands is to listen and watch very objectively without using past performances or visual appeal as a bias. This is super hard to do of course, because we all know that band guys are hot.

as it stands, I think Battles of the Bands are good things on any scale.

SPEAKING of Battle of the Bands (you guys knew it was coming...)

my lovelies in News From Verona have TWO shows this weekend (May 7 and 8) May 7 is at the ES Jungle (6151 Central Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46220) with Between the Trees and May 8 is at the Emerson (4630 East 10th Street Indianapolis, IN 46201) with Anarbor and Automatic Loveletter. BOTH are going to be AMAZING shows, so you should go to at least one. contact me if you need more information. they're both clean venues and clean bands, so if that's a worry for parents, they can relax. tickets are cheap ($7 for Friday, $8 for Saturday).

AND, the real reason I started this plug, they're doing a Battle of the Bands for a chance to play at the Indy date of this year's Warped Tour (one of the best summer tours EVER). EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT GOING/DON'T WANT TO GO/DON'T CARE, PLEASE vote for them... I'll appreciate it. they'll appreciate it. and it's a HUGE opportunity for them. go to www.battleofthebands.com/newsfromverona, create an account (or two), and VOTE. you can vote every day. once a day. you can also opt not to receive e-mails from them if you wish. pleeease do this for me. =]
(Roncalli's own Falling With Style is also in the competition and could use your support: battleofthebands.com/fallingwithstyle).

....but what?

I've decided to begin blogging for real this time. I'm not sure what about though... to be honest, I'm just trying to make a little money. I'm not even sure if it'll work, but I'm trying. I think that MySpace and Facebook and sites like that should start paying ME to continue to be a member. I'm not sure why they'd do that, but I think they should.I may make this a review sort of blog. y'know? I'll review new albums, books, concerts, bands, all that jazz. HEY! I could make this a NfV review blog. or just an NfV blog? I think that would work.

NfV = News From Verona, by the way. They're this amazing little band from Greenwood, Indiana. (about twenty minutes south of Monument Circle in Indianapolis, Indiana.)
I'd call them pop-punk christian, but that tends to deter people. they're not your typical "We love Jesus we want God to touch us, be in us, be with us" christan band who seemingly have a love interest in God... they're just five guys with a positive message that want kids to know that God IS there, and God is a huge part of their lives and he can be there for everyone if they'd let him. None of their Christian message interferes with their music though. it's just positive. about being good people, having fun, living life. I wouldn't know they were a Christian band at all, actually, if they didn't say halfway through their set "oh, by the way, we're Christian, come talk to us if you want to know more about what that means".
They've always been able to effectively let people know their beliefs without shoving it down their throats at all.
It's a great bunch of guys.
They've got a show on December 5, 2009 at The Gear: 41 W.Monroe St. Franklin, IN 46131 $10 to get in. They'll be playing with Seabird, The Holiday, and The Civil Wars. come check it out!

peace.
kateschutte