Three 2005 Oxford High School graduates are preparing for a battle next month.
No, they’re not heading off to war in Iraq. They’re headed to the second annual Detroit News Battle of the Bands.
On April 1, Emily Burns, Chris Agar and Mike Berlingieri, all 18, will compete against nine other teenage bands from Michigan at the Detroit State Theatre for the 2006 title.
Their band, Jazz Junk & the Booty, was chosen out of more than 100 applicants for the battle, which is sponsored by The Detroit News, John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and Axis Music Academy.
All three participated in Jazz Band at OHS and formed to perform at the high school’s spring talent show. Performing Herbie Hancock’s ‘Chameleon? the band placed second before going on to win first place at the Flint Metro League talent show.
‘After that, we just kept playing more together,? Burns said.
With Burns on lead vocals/guitar, Agar on bass and Berlingieri on drums, you could say Jazz Junk are seasoned performers, spending last summer performing at places like Bonsai Bob’s in Lake Orion at the Lake Orion Blues Fest and at open mic nights in Ferndale.
Burns attended last year’s Battle of the Bands and got the itch to get Jazz Junk involved this year with their jazzy, funk, reggae and rock-inspired music.
The band sent in a CD with two studio recorded songs, care of Burns? uncle, to contend for a spot. The judges obviously liked what they heard.
At the all-day battle, Jazz Junk will have 15 minutes to perform two of their original songs, ‘The Losing End? and ‘Voices,? which they describe as being about ‘life experiences? and ‘ideas.? Hip-hop, Christian rock and punk will be other genres featured during the day.
The adrenaline-filled night ends with an awards ceremony, with first, second and third place winners receiving a professional recording session on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a free entry into the John Lennon songwriting contest, a showcasing slot at May’s Motor City Music Conference, a guitar and amplifier, 1,000 professionally made CDs with their two songs and various prizes from Apple Computers.
Because each member of Jazz Junk attends different colleges (Burns is at U of M-Flint, Agar at U of M and Berlingieri at Oakland University) they make it a point to write music separately before coming together to practice.
But their bouncy beats and instrumental breaks coupled with Burns? soft, yet powerful voice makes it feel like they write the music together. They let their fingers do all the work.
‘It’s important to know your instrument well and then play it with other people all the time,? Agar said. ‘You learn so much from playing with other musicians.?
Burns and Agar said they look to musicians like Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, blues singer Susan Tedeschi and the songs of Motown for inspiration to write and that the music nowadays is ‘sad.? The American Idol phenomenon is something Jazz Junk & the Booty are hoping to reverse.
‘Music right now is dominated by industry and corporations,? Agar stressed. ‘Great musicians are really a dime a dozen.?
Even though the Battle of the Bands is less than a month away, Agar isn’t really nervous about performing in front of thousands of people.
‘It’s not really nervousness’it’s adrenaline,? he said. ‘It’s so awesome.?
Whether Jazz Junk & the Booty places in the battle or not, band members agree they won’t stop pursuing music as a career. Agar’s goal in life is to ‘sustain myself by playing music,? while Burns just wants to be in the recording studio.
‘Just as long as I’m doing something with music’I’ll be happy,? she said.
To listen to Jazz Junk & the Booty’s song ‘The Losing End,? visit www.detnews.com/events.