Bands battle it out for Greek Week

Old-school rock ‘n’ roll raised more than $5,000 for charity at the Battle of the Bands,… Old-school rock ‘n’ roll raised more than $5,000 for charity at the Battle of the Bands, this year’s second Greek Week event.

“We wanted to have an event that was really different,” said Rebecca Daley, the Battle of the Bands chair.

Open to the public, the event showcased five local bands, and all proceeds benefited the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The battle took place in Club Laga last Thursday night, and the bands were glad to raise money for a good cause.

“We believe in the cause and are doing our part to help out,” Justin Meservie said.

Meservie, vice president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, sang and played guitar for Morning Soul at the Battle of the Bands. He opened for Blessed Union of Souls in a solo performance last year.

This was the first Battle of the Bands held by the Greek community. It was also the first time Greek members could flaunt their musical talent for charity.

Fraternities and sororities were scored based on attendance, banners and whether the band to which they were assigned raised the most money. Donation jars with the names of each band were set up near the chairs to raise extra money.

Not all the bands had Greek members – the indie-rock band Hooray for Everything had no Greek members, but it received the most donations and also won the Battle of the Bands. A staff member at Club Laga judged the bands and chose the winner. This was the band’s first performance at the club.

Other local bands An Offhand Way, Twenty-Month Spring and Pete Killed Pete, also participated.

“I’m just kind of here,” said Bill Oats, guitarist for Hooray for Everything, and a Pitt alumnus.

Justin Hess, the drummer for An Offhand Way, opened for the Buzz Poets in the William Pitt Union last year.

“I hope they raise a lot of money. It’s for a good cause,” Hess said.

The Greek winners for the event were Sigma Sigma Sigma and Kappa Kappa Gamma for the sororities and Lambda Chi Alpha and Kappa Sigma for the fraternities.