The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Start ’em young
Tri-C High School Rock Off gives green musical artists chance to shine
After more than two decades, the Tri-C High School Rock Off is still finding new ways to attract teenage musicians seeking stardom.
This year’s 22nd annual affair, with semifinal rounds taking place Jan. 20 and 27 and Feb. 3 10 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, includes a slew of changes designed to modernize a local event that continues to attract regional bands and national attention.
“Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman loves this event,” Live Nation Network Marketing Senior Vice President Barry Gabel said.
“In fact, he has on national conference calls personally singled out the High School Rock Off, saying to other markets they should be doing something like this that’s recognizing local talent. That’s a great slap on the back.”
This year’s battle of the bands includes 51 acts featuring 214 band members and six solo artists representing 84 schools across five states. During the four performance rounds, each act will play a 15-minute set. Three bands will be selected by a panel of judges to move on to The Final Exam Feb. 17 at the Rock Hall.
Bands with members representing Lake County schools include Jan. 20 — Pomade (Riverside), performing Jan. 20, and Plus One (Harvey, Perry, Perry Middle), playing Jan. 27.
All of the participants are vying for first place, which includes $1,000 cash and $250 for their high school music program. More importantly to the kids, the first-place winner will perform at the 2018 Vans Warped Tour at Blossom Music Center, as well as the Rock Hall’s annual Summer in the City program.
Second place receives $250 cash and $100 for their high school music program, with third place getting $100 cash. Also, one finalist will also be selected to perform at the 2018 Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, while other winning bands will be invited to perform at Rock Hall functions during the 2018 induction week.
“The Tri-C JazzFest is embracing the kids that perform here,” Gabel said. “Don’t get lost under the moniker — they embrace all types of music, and two bands were invited to play last year at the JazzFest.
“As for the Rock Hall, some of these bands will have the opportunity to play at induction parties or induction events, which is pretty cool.”
All finalists also will record one original song at Tri-C’s Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts, which will be produced by Jim Stewart Recording and students from TriC’s Recording Arts program. These songs will be available as free downloads (rockhall.com/rockoff) at the time of The Final Exam.
There are a few other new additions of note. One involves ticketing, which can be done online. The band that sells the most tickets will get to pick its semifinal round time slot. Also, all participating high school seniors will have the opportunity to apply for three PNC scholarships (up to $2,000 each) to the Cuyahoga Community College Gill and Tommy LiPuma Center for Performing Arts.
New this year will be a roundtable discussion among the bands, with various club owners and bookers enlightening students on how to not only get their band a booked gig, but also how to expand their presence around the region.
Looking ahead, Gabel said the Tri-C High School Rock Off is thriving and appears set for decades to come.
“This allows these students an incredible opportunity to follow their dreams, not necessarily to be rock stars, but to learn about the industry and actually give them a voice,” Gabel said. “That’s exactly what I wanted this to turn into when we started 22 years ago.
“It was always intended to be a way to jumpstart a kid’s spark of a career or at least to start thinking about how can they can get a foot in the door or ignite a passion for music in the business. And it’s really doing that.”