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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2004
Battle of the Bands
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan Bret Palmer, Topeka sophomore, plays with his band The Ice Cream Sandwiches. Audience members listened to five bands battle it out last Thursday at the Burge Union. Free snow cones and cotton candy were served for refreshments.
Area musicians have 'friendly fight' at summer bash
Marc Ingber
mingber@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Some local musicians engaged in a little friendly rivalry last week.
The Ice Cream Sandwiches, Distance to Empty, Aubrey, Epiphany and Central Atmosphere competed at "Sweatin' It Out — The Summer Battle of the Bands" on Thursday night at the Burge Union.
The judging panel, made up of two members of Student Union Activities and two members of KJHK, gave first prize to Central Atmosphere at the battle, which was co-sponsored by SUA, KJHK, Mass Street Music and UPS.
The event was supposed to take place outside, but it was moved indoors because weather reports called for rain. However, it didn't start raining until all the bands were cleaning up.
the bands were clearing up. "For a first-time, end-of-the-summer event, it did well," said Rachel Peart, Overland Park junior and president of SUA. "It might have done a little better if it was outside."
About 100 people attended the battle which included free admission, snow cones and cotton candy.
Scott Welch, Overland Park sophomore and guitarist for Central Atmosphere, said his band read about the battle on a flier. Central Atmosphere has played shows at Old Chicago, 11721 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, as well as the Jazzhaus, 926-1/2 Massachusetts St. Welch used to play at battles when he was in a band in high school, he said, and he had always tried to enjoy them.
"It is a competition," he said. "I'm just having fun though."
Peart agreed. She said all the competition was friendly.
"All the bands showed up early and were very supportive of one another," she said. "It was a nice mixture of music."
John Ulasien, Lawrence resident and singer and guitarist for Aubrey, said the show went well, but he wished the bands
Courtney Kuhlon/Kansan
Jeff Milberger, Topea sophomore, and Sarah Dees, Sioux City, Iowa, sophomore, played during their set at "Sweatin' It Out - Summer Battle of the Bands." The event was held last Thursday at the Burge Union, and was originally planned to be outside but was moved indoors due to a threat of rain.
"It is a competition. I'm having fun though."
Scott Welch Overland Park sophomore and guitarist for Central Atmosphere
had a little more time to play. He said he found out only a couple days before the show that the bands got to play 20 minute sets as opposed to the 30 minutes he thought they would get. The set-up times weren't that long either, he said.
"It was pretty hectic, but everything turned out pretty good," Ulasien said.
Ulasien said Aubrey was going to focus more on its own shows in the future rather than battles.
"We're not into a competitive thing," he said. "We like to do our own thing."
- Edited by Julie Jones