On April 29, 2019, Parkway South’s Battle of the Bands competition was held for the last time. More than 5 years later, social studies teacher Drew Jennings is trying to bring it back…
Jennings, who has hosted at least six of the other competitions from 2008-2019 and sponsored the Music Appreciation Club, is organizing the Battle of the Bands again this year. He says he plans to have the competition in the springtime, before spring break. However, there’s one problem–only one band is signed up.
That band goes by the name of Point of Invention, a self-described emo/post-hardcore band. They are inspired by the sounds of other bands in their genre such as Hum, Braid, Texas is the Reason, and Sunny Day Real Estate.
It’s been a few months since Point of Invention formed, and now they hope to play their first-ever show with their original songs at the Battle of the Bands competition. Their band lineup consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Joe Kummer of North, lead guitarist Danny Greenwaldt from South, drummer Isaiah Price who graduated from South in 2023, and bassist Athena Miransky who graduated from South in 2024.
Price said the band signed up in hopes that the competition would, “bring attention to us and help us create some sort of audience.”
Since the band has yet to release anything on Spotify, Battle of the Bands would be an opportunity for them to show off their music to people who might be looking for music like their band, according to Price.
“We’ve spent hours practicing and rehearsing for it,” said Price.
The band is also excited for other people to sign up and wants to encourage other bands to join them.
“I really do think everyone should feel comfortable and confident to come jam with us. We’ll have a good time, and whoever wins, wins,” said Kummer.
As of now, anyone can sign up by talking to Jennings in room 2307. Every band that signs up will get to play a 15-minute show, and at the end, the audience will vote on their favorite. Whoever wins will get to play an encore.
Jennings said at the 2019 competition, “Instead of an encore, all of the bands got up and they all played Seven Nation Army together.”
That experience only highlights how the competition could build community within the music scene at Parkway South High.
Social Studies teacher Jim Lake, who played in the 2019 competition and hopes to play again this year, said the competition is important because it gives people the experience of live music.
“[Live music] is just kind of a lost thing right now,” said Lake.
All of the musicians who have been involved in the Battle of the Bands encourage anyone who wants to sign up for the competition to go for it, even Ethan Kraus, a South graduate who participated in the 2016, 2017, and 2019 competitions.
Kraus played his freshman year in 2016 with his brother in a band called Peach Fuzz, then again the next year in a band called A Thousand Dogs Named Dave, and then again in a two-piece band called Kimball and Valencia his senior year.
Now he’s a part of his own band called Thumbtack Mechanics. They are a 6-piece rock band based out of Cincinnati that Kraus plays lead guitar and sings in.
After all his years in music, he remembers his time in high school as an important part of his career.
“The stuff in high school made me realize I really liked to do [music],” said Kraus. “It really set a good foundation.”
Kraus recalls that his favorite competition was his sophomore year.
“I did theater all 4 years, and one of the guys of the band also did,” He said. “We went into the costume thing and got these really nice fur coats, and that was really fun, we just did whatever. I remember dressing really fun for those shows, and that was always a good time getting ready for them.”
Battle of the Bands being hosted again could mean new musicians coming from South.
“The easiest that it’s ever going to be to break into something like [music] is in high school, it’s the lowest the stakes are ever gonna be,” said Kraus.
