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Teen bands from across area compete in Park Ridge
Maine South High School freshman Ryan Finn performs with his band, The Common Place, during Bobbapalooza, held May 12 at the Park Ridge Community Center. | Michael Jarecki~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: June 29, 2012 8:15AM
The return of Park Ridge’s annual teen band night, Bobbapalooza, was smaller than past events but still considered a success, according to its new organizer.
“It went great,” said Jared Skiba, who managed the event. “It got nothing but positive feedback. The bands went extremely, extremely well.”
Eleven high school bands performed during the May 12 concert and competition, which took place at the Park Ridge Community Center and drew an audience of roughly 350, Skiba said. This is about one-third the draw of the past several Bobbapalooza events at South Park Church in Park Ridge.
Seven awards were presented to six bands. Sleep Academy, of River Grove, was presented an award for Best Cover Song. Taking 1st Place for the biggest audience draw was The Common Place, whose members are students at Maine South High School and Loyola Academy; taking 2nd Place was Electric Revolver, of Maine South High School; and 3rd Place was won by Perennial Youth, of Park Ridge.
Breach the Wall, whose members attend East Leyden and West Leyden High Schools, was the winner of the Judge’s Award, which means the band will perform during Taste of Park Ridge this July.
Judges awarded The Copy Chiefs, of Maine South, 2nd Place and Sleep Academy 3rd Place.
Other bands that performed included: The Keens, of Maine South; Underground Empire, of Maine South; The Glad Fact, of Chicago; Last Resort, of Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South; and Mike, Matt & Kevin, of Maine South.
Bobbapalooza began as a South Park Church event for the community’s youth. It was held twice annually but Skiba plans to organize the band night just once each year, with the next concert tentatively scheduled for May 2013.
“It will continue,” he said. “Everybody’s on board to keep it going.”
