San Benito High School’s Rock Guitar Club has been hosting the Battle of the Bands competition since 2003, with the latest event held in October. The club started in response to the number of students requesting guitar lessons from SBHS English teacher Thomas Rooth.
“I like to get people involved in music,” Rooth said. “It’s about the most fun you can have.”
He explained the concert started when students approached him about raising money for a student who was injured in a car accident. After that, the club has averaged about four concerts a year for the last nine years.
“I resisted the idea of competitions for years,” Rooth said. “There was no way I was going to judge my kids’ performances.”
In the spring of 2012, Tool Shed Studio in Gilroy started judging the competition. They were like “angels out of heaven,” Rooth said. Tool Shed offered judging and a grand prize of recording time to the winner. This year, the competitions added dB Studio’s Ben Whittaker to the panel of judges. Rooth said Whittaker provided “excellent service” for the competition and they were “very happy to have him.”
“It’s about giving them the sound,” Whittaker said. “I have been on the other side of the studio and I know what it’s like to be in a band.”
The grand prize for the October Battle of the Bands is recording time at dB Studios. The winners are given one day to record – not enough time to record a whole album but enough to record a few songs. The grand prize was awarded to the band “Conserve”.
“I have been in touch with the winners and we should begin recording around mid-November,” Whittaker said.
“The learning experience helps them hone their skills,” Rooth said. “Getting criticism and assistance of educated professionals is more than I can ever give.”
The Rock Guitar Club is already preparing for the next show, the Benefit Concert scheduled for Dec. 1. The group is planning to bring back some bands such as “Burned on the Stake” and “Trophy Kids”. The time and location are to be determined.
