Musicians gearing up for band battle

Life After Liftoff, one of five bands competing in this year's St. Jude's Battle of the Bands at Wright State University

Wright State University is getting ready to host the annual St. Jude’s Battle of the Bands. The Battle of the Bands is a part of the St. Jude’s “Up ‘til Dawn” event, which also includes a letter writing campaign.

“Up ‘til Dawn” benefits the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. St. Jude’s is dedicated to treatment and research of childhood cancer and other catastrophic illnesses, and never turns a patient down if their family cannot pay.

Shana Cunningham, the organizer of the Battle of the Bands, says that this year five bands will compete for eight hours of recording time with In The Red Productions. The bands are Chapter 3, 3^rd and Main, Patient’s Worth, The Glory Game, and Life After Liftoff.

Lee Weiss, the lead singer of Life After Liftoff, says that his band chose to compete in Battle of the Bands because they felt it was for a good cause. “It’s an organization I’ve always felt passionate about,” says Weiss.

Weiss is a pre-med student who says he wants to help children especially. He had a cousin who went through childhood leukemia, and likes the idea that he can help raise money for what he calls “an awesome foundation.”

He describes Life After Liftoff as “alien pop-punk,” and says they resemble nineties pop and punk music with synthesizer, keyboard, and ambient sound.

To hear Life After Liftoff and the other four groups, guests should bring five dollars admission to the Apollo Room in Wright State’s Student Union. University Activities Board will sponsor a game room, and there will be food from City Barbeque and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Battle of the Bands will run from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday, February 7. For more information, contact Shana Cunningham at cunningham.62@wright.edu.