Battle of the Bands

A new spin on fundraising

Alex Fredrichs

Imagine a huge group of teenagers pouring in to an empty fraternity warehouse behind a Mazda dealership. Not quite a typical Saturday night. However, on Nov. 8 this was the sight seen at Operations Others fundraiser, Battle of the Bands, as more than 400 people piled in to attended the show.

Duchesne Senior Megan Connolly headed the event, “It was intense being in charge, but I really lucked out with everyone's help.”

Even a local fraternity, Sigma Chi Alpha, offered their warehouse as space for the event.

Seven bands played Sonus, All that’s left, and Self Portrait from Creighton Prep, Idge and the Funky Bunch, West of Reality, and Red Necks Poet’s Society from Skutt. Two other bands were composed each of two schools, The Royal None Such from Prep and Duchesne and Elusive from Prep and Marian.

Senior Brittany Dodendorf plays bass in the band Elusive. “A few hours before the concert started, I was getting very anxious, but when I got there I was so excited to play that being nervous wasn’t an issue anymore. It was a lot of fun playing and to hear other bands play. Actually being apart of it was an awesome experience. Operation Others did a great job and everything seemed to go very smoothly.”

As the bands “battled” for first a large crowd enjoyed the show. Two stages were set up so the music kept going all through the night.

Junior Megan McLeay noted that “[the show] was a safe place to have fun.” And Senior Kylie McGonigal said “It’s a great way to see up and coming local bands play”.

Junior Gianna Procopio said “I’m waiting for my brother to play, and for the bongo drums.”

Little did she know her brothers band, Self Portrait would win. The winners received Operation Other’s t-shirts, shoe laces and the title of the first winners ever of an O.O. Battle of the Bands.

Overall the entertaining battle brought in more than $2,500 ending as a huge success and hopefully ongoing tradition for O.O.