starlocalnews.comIn The Community, With The Community, For the Community

Your Hometown:


Archives > News Update

Dallas band scores battle title

Published: Saturday, April 28, 2012 2:16 PM CDT
MESQUITE-- The 6th Annual Real.Texas.Festival. in Mesquite kicked off its second day with its annual battle of the bands competition. The competition pitted six high school-aged bands against each other to determine which group best commanded the stage and delivered during the battle.


The battle began with each of the bands playing a two song set. At the end of the opening round three bands were left standing – Kosmic Girls and Koltraine, Lasting Effect and One Soul.

Each band was then given the opportunity to play a second set of songs to determine the grand champion of the competition.

When the votes were tallied, Dallas-based band One Soul took home the $500 first prize as the grand champion of the battle. The group is comprised of Johnathan Ballew, Juan Cano and Reece Clark.

The group immediately prepared to give their 30 minute encore performance which was part of the winner's prize pack.

“We were happy and surprised. We honestly thought the Kosmic Girls and Koltraine were going to win,” Clark said.

The win was the first time the group has won any competition it has taken part in. Clark said he had a theory as to why they hadn't won before.

“The reason we lose is we are always competing against adults with more experience,' Clark said.

One Soul has been playing together for less than a year and can thank the connection they made through Dallas' School of Rock for allowing them to meet each other and become a band.

“The School of Rock teaches you how to play and they put you on stage to get you used to performing,” Clark said.

The band said they each have their own musical influences that they try and blend into their own music. Two of the band's members, Clark and Ballew, cited the band All Time Low as having a significant impact on their music.

“We really try and mix all the sounds together as much as possible,” Clark said.

At least one member of the band, Cano, was comfortable on the big stage at the Real.Texas.Festival. stage, having played in last year's battle with another band.

“This year I was ore confident because I had more experience,” Cano said.

The band said they usually take a month off and book two to three months of shows at once so don't currently have any shows booked for May but are booked pretty solid in June, July and August.

The band said they plan to set part if their winning back to offset the cost of purchasing additional merchandise such as T-shirts and necklaces. The rest of the prize money will be divided among the band's members.

“We hope to be the kind of band people can sing along to and that we can make a lasting effect on people's lives,” Ballew said.

That impact stretches beyond the stage for this group of young men as they have partnered with The Red Thread Movement to help stop the underage sex slave trade in Nepal. The group wears and sells red bracelets to help support the cause.

“We are trying to be helpful. We are trying to get these people shelter and protection,” Clark said.

For information on One Soul, visit www.facebook.com/onesoulrock.

Share this Article
Bookmark and Share




Article Rating
Current Rating: 4 of 1 votes!Rate File:
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Become a Registered User

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

 
twitter Click here to subscribe to our newspaper
Submit a story Submit a photo Send a Letter
May 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
Event Date:
May 24th, 2013
Event Time:
9:00am - 8:00pm
Event Date:
May 26th, 2013
Event Time:
9:00am - 11:30am
Event Date:
May 27th, 2013
Event Time:
10:30am - 6:00pm