Community Corner
Last Resort Takes First in Rock the Green
Northbrook and Glenview musicians win cash and impress judges at Battle of Northbrook Youth Bands.
Winning wasn't the first resort for a group of Glenbrook North and South students. It was the Last Resort.
The band won the third : Battle of the Northbrook Youth Bands on June 8. An enthusiastic crowd of several hundred people watched the showcase and competition at Village Green Park.
The Chicago Tribune notes that the band impressed the five-judge panel with a set that included three original songs plus their cover of My Chemical Romance’s “Thank You for the Venom."
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Last Resort members include: Kayti Gregory, Gary Zucker, Charlie Laughlin and Michael Colon.
In addition to receiving a cash prize of $300, Last Resort won the chance to perform at a Park Fest concert on June 26 and at Northbrook Autumnfest on October 13. The band plans to use its winnings to pay for studio recording time, according to the Tribune.
Find out what's happening in Northbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“It was great to see the park filled with people supporting the local youth musicians,” says Jonathan Pratscher, Leisure Services Supervisor for the Northbrook Park District. “The talent level and variety of genres displayed was incredible. I believe the audience and participants really enjoyed themselves.”
Eight bands performed at the event, which was sponsored by the Northbrook Park District, Northbrook Arts Commission and Northbrook Youth Commission. A panel of judges ranked the bands according to sound quality, musical ability, originality and audience appeal.
Other winners were: The Ska-lers (most fans at event), Bull Fights (1st runner-up and best original song), Wireless Soul (most “likes” on Facebook and best showmanship), and Seagrass (2nd runner-up).
The judges included: Lori Norton, the music director for the Northbrook Park District Theatre; Matt Walker, former drummer for the bands Smashing Pumpkins and Morrissey; Brooke Wilson, who has marketed artists for such labels as A&M, Motown, PolyGram Classics & Jazz; Gregg Dennhardt, manager of the park district's performing arts department for 32 years;and Goode Barber, an entertainment attorney who has worked for worked Elektra Records, RCA Records, Island Records and Disney.
