As the Rockhurst High School Battle of the Bands event approaches, The Dart wonders why STA doesn’t have their own Battle of

the Bands. What would need to be done to orchestrate this event? We decided to ask Rockhurst senior and band member Connor Doolan to explain how Battle of the Bands works at his school.

Which band are you in? Thundermuffin, a group of four guys that started freshman year

Influences? Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pink Floyd

What do you play? Guitar, bass, piano…Sometimes vocals and I compose songs

Who runs Battle of the Bands? National Honors Society

What are the requirements for performing? You have to submit a demo, and a panel of judges picks around eight bands to perform. Each band must include at least one current Rockhurst student.

Who are the judges? A group of teachers, students and maybe a musician outside of Rockhurst

Have you performed every year? Freshman year our band didn’t make it, but sophomore and junior year we won.

How does a band win? Each judge writes a critique and a winner is determined that night

What is the prize for winning? Bragging rights. Seriously though, they do determine first through third places and give out awards. For example, I got best guitarist both years. There’s also best drummer, vocals and things like that.

Are there ever ‘joke bands’? I can only think of one: Acidbath, which screamed and went nuts on stage. It was hilarious. But that’s not typical.

Is there a charge of admission? Yes, [the event] called Carlitos’ Battle of the Bands and all benefits go to Jesuit missionary work in Central America

When is Battle of the Bands? Feb. 20 at the Rose Theatre

Will you compete this year? Two of the band members can’t come, so our band won’t, but I might play guitar with another group

If STA had Battle of the Bands would you go? I absolutely would go! It would be fun and exciting to see some of STA’s musical talent.

So, why hasn’t STA created their own Battle of the Bands similiar to Rockhurst? Are there not enough girl bands to participate? Would it not produce enough of an audience? Has the idea never been presented?

Principal for Student Affairs Mary Anne Hoecker said that orchestrating a Battle of the Bands performance at STA has never been brought up.

“We don’t do everything that Rockhurst High School does,” Hoecker said. “No one has come to us about [starting Battle of the Bands].”

One reason STA doesn’t host this kind of event might be the lack of participation. According to an STA student poll:

12% of students would perform in a Battle of the Bands

88% of students would not perform in a Battle of the Bands

Another possible reason STA Battle of the Bands does not exist is the lack of girl bands. STA junior Libby O’Neill, who is part of a wizard rock band featured in a previous issue of The Dart, said that she would probably perform at this type of STA event. Even though she knows of STA girls in bands, she believes that bands are not quite as popular among girls.

“Boys tend to form bands more than girls,” O’Neill said. “Girls tend to be a little more serious musicians, but that’s just me.”

An additional poll asked students if they knew any high school girl bands.

28% of students know of a girl band at STA

72% of students do not know of a girl band at STA

A final reason STA does not have Battle of the Bands could be a lack of interest in seeing this kind of performance.

However, The Dart asked girls if they would attend a Battle of the Bands event at STA and

82% of students would attend this event

18% of students would not attend this event

STA will not be hosting a Battle of the Bands tournament this year, but now that the idea is out there perhaps there is hope for the future.