Community Corner

Battle Ends, Top Bands Named at Hillsborough County Fair

The 2012 Battle of the Bands contest presented by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department wrapped up with three award winners on Oct. 20, at the Hillsborough County Fair in Greater Brandon.

 

Who won the 2012 Battle of the Bands contest at the Hillsborough County Fair, hosted by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation department? That would be a collective 13 musicians, representing three bands.

Medals — and studio-time prizes for the top two bands — were announced Oct. 20 at the conclusion of the two-day competition.

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  • First place went to Obskurity, featuring musicians Teagan Byrnes, Caleb Caton, Beau Cleaves, Chase Cleaves and Lynne Conner.
  • Second place went to Twenty Years North, featuring musicians Colin Bello, Jacob Argoncillo, Justin Argoncillo, Paolo Ilagan and Raoul Ilagan.
  • Third Place went to The Hanging Chads, featuring musicians Connor Fass, Alex Supkay and Lars Tatum.

Joe Soletti, of the Hillborough parks department, said five judges with musical backgrounds rated the bands in five categories: guitars, drums, vocals, showmanship ("what you do in between songs, how you related to the crowd," he said) and originality.

The top band received 20 hours or studio time at Morrisound Recording in Temple Terrace. The second-place team received five hours of studio time.

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The aim of the annual bands battle is "to reach out to that different teenager, who might not be involved in sports but is involved in music, "Soletti said. "They're kids and they get to perform in front of the public."

  • See Battle of the Bands Rocks the 2012 Hillsborough County Fair

Conner said musicians in her band, Obskurity, first played together at The Rockestra with the Florida Academy of Performing Arts, in residence at Music Showcase in Brandon. Conner is a student at Strawberry Crest. The Cleaves attend Riverview High and Caton is in college.

"It's amazing," she said of her band's top showing in the Battle of the Bands contest, which last year was won by Culprit.

"We weren't sure we would win," she added, "but we played our hearts out, and that's all you can do."

 


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