By SARA WALLACH
News Editor
Monmouth County Vocational School District’s musical talent gathered at High Technology High School on Friday, March 18, at the annual Battle of the Bands Competition, with CHS’s premiere band, Suburban Cliché, taking third place.
About 100 students, friends and parents attended and students stood or sat segregated by school in High Tech’s multipurpose room. CHS had 13 students in attendance.
High Tech’s class councils and Student Government Association sponsored the event, said SGA president Betty Liu of Colts Neck. The organizations split up the proceeds and put them toward things like graduation, prom and the yearbook.
Six bands competed this year, five of which were made up of High Tech students. They included Sound Oddyssey, Aurora Noodle, Needs More Octopii, Yours Truly and Stopping the Bears.
The sixth was CHS band Suburban Cliché, made up of CHS seniors singer and guitarist Cole Gallagher of Eatontown, guitarist Mike Burke of Farmingdale, bassist and singer Frank Talamo of Freehold and drummer Thom Bell of the Highlands.
Suburban Cliché played after Sound Oddyssey and Aurora Noodle. Aurora Noodle was “yellowcard-tastic,” said Burke, holding his guitar.
“I’m feeling pumped,” said Gallagher, the band’s lead singer, before performing. “I want to rock the stage and show them who’s boss.”
“I don’t know how I feel about the High Tech venue,” said Bell as he prepared his drum set.
The band began by playing a cover of Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You.” They also played “Tighten Up” by the Black Keys, a 1980’s medley, “El Scorcho” by Weezer and “You May Be Right” by Billy Joel, for which Gallagher and Talamo switched instruments.
During their set, Gallagher entertained the crowd by jumping on one foot while Burke walked into the audience. Bell smiled when Gallagher hit the high notes in “Forget You” and Talamo authenticated “Tighten Up” by whistling at the beginning of the song.
“The other bands don’t have what they have,” said senior Connor McAuley of Howell of the band’s stage presence. “They’re fun to watch and they’re skilled with their instruments.”
Afterwards, the ska band Needs More Octopii prompted CHS seniors Kelsey Miller of Wall and Mike Smith of Marlboro to dance in the audience. Screamo band Yours Truly caused senior Steph Harrold of Wall to cover her ears while crowd members head-banged.
The last band, Stopping the Bears, made the crowd laugh with some brief comedy and played My Chemical Romance covers of “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” and “Dead!”
The audience members cast their votes by placing the four orange tickets they were given upon entry into the bags of their favorite bands.
Suburban Cliché was awarded third place, Need More Octopii took second and Stopping the Bears won first.
“The bears were stopped tonight,” said a Stopping the Bears member. “Also, Suburban Cliché were bros.”