The band Elixer of Jade has walked away with a $4,000 prize and the opportunity to be the opening act for Little Feat at the Loudoun Summer Music Fest.
The Potomac Falls High School band took the top prize Friday in the All Star Battle of the Bands. Two of the judges Ñ accomplished musicians Ñ asked the bandÕs drummer, Ben Spear, to jam with them after the competition. Dave Peterson, a judge, bass player and songwriter for the indie rock pioneers Fighting Gravity, said Spear sounded like the drummer of The Who. The other Elixer of Jade members are Adam Zuckerman and Anthony Phillips.
Cherokee West of 94.7 The Arrow, who has been a regular on the Elliot in the Morning radio show, said he was Òblown awayÓ by all of the bandsÕ talent. He also told organizers that several of the players have a future in the music industry.
THE JOSH ESTRADA Project of Stone Bridge High School took second place with a $1,000 prize and the opportunity to open for Grand Funk Railroad at the music fest. The band members are Josh and Jordan Estrada and Josh Short.
The Battle of the Bands, featuring original music, was held in conjunction with Loudoun Youth Week. The contest was sponsored by the Loudoun Foundation, the Loudoun Summer Music Fest, the Loudoun Youth Initiative, Loudoun County Public Schools, Inova Loudoun Hospital, Broadlands Regional Medical Center, America Online and Melodee Music. It was underwritten by the foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to promote musical enrichment for Loudoun children.
Other Youth Week activities included a StompFest competition, a dialogue on culture and cliques, and library activities geared specifically for teens. The initiative was formed last year to keep the area's teenagers away from alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, violence and gangs.
KOLESLAW, Evade Fate, Eponymous, The Skamalians, Not Quite There, and Face Another Day also competed. Helen Taylor, 17, of Sterling, was among the teens from across the county who attended the event. She said she especially liked that the competition was held in a safe environment. ÒIt was good to hang out in a place here nothing was going to happen,Ó she said.
She also gave a thumbs-up to the judges, who provided positive critiques to the performers, similar to ÒAmerican Idol.Ó Among the judges was Phil Brown, guitarist/songwriter who played with Little Feat, Otmar Leitbert, Cher, Pat Benetar, Kenny Loggins, Kool & The Gang and Michael McDonald, who flew in from Denver.
Taylor said the decision to invite teens from all over Loudoun was a positive move. ÒI met a few other people,Ó she said.
MARK SANCHEZ, 16, of Leesburg, said he attends a lot of battle of the bands shows. ÒI thought this was more organized,Ó he said. ÒBut it went a bit slower than the ones IÕve been to.Ó
He said the buses that provided rides to the event from three county high schools were a Ògood idea.Ó
ÒPeople who are really devoted to the bands, that made it easier to see them,Ó he said.
Delbert White, chairman of Youth Week, said he was impressed that the contest drew parents and children as well as the teenagers.
ÒDid you feel the energy in that room?Ó asked Carol Kost, chairwoman of the Loudoun County Advisory Commission on Youth. ÒEveryone had fun!Ó
She said organizers already are thinking about the next event. ÒWeÕre talking about doing this quarterly and leading up to a final one,Ó she said. ÒWeÕre dreaming big here.Ó