Press Room
Rock Camp offers tips for forming bands, a chance to take the stage
Thursday, July 22 2010
Brad Canze | The Grand Rapids Press
Over the summer, some kids go to a camp to canoe, sit around campfires and cook hot dogs.
The 36 students who attended Rock Camp at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, learn to play heavy metal, market their bands, and take the stage with attitude. The weeklong camp teaches youth ages 12 to 18 with previous musical experience how to play with a band, as well as many lessons that go along with it.
“Rock Camp revolves around learning everything there is to know about being in a band,” said camp leader Lisa Kacos. “It’s a lot of teamwork, and a lot of working in a group. It’s not all learning music.” The camp was taught by the members of the Grand Rapids band Outer Vibe, which includes Kacos, who plays keyboards and trumpet, singer Sean Zuidgeest, guitarist Nick Hosford, bassist Andrew Darnoff and drummer Jeff Breems.
After a week of rehearsals, six bands formed at the camp will perform Saturday at The Intersection, 133 Grandville Ave. SW, opening for Outer Vibe, along with local bands Full Throttle, GO! and Tribune.
Outer Vibe has held five Rock Camps within the past year associated with Michigan State University; this is the first collaboration with St. Cecilia Music Center. “The inquiries are already coming in for future Rock Camps in Grand Rapids,” Kacos said.
Each of the six student bands will perform two songs. Taking the name Iron Gaga, one band chose to learn “The Trooper” by Iron Maiden and “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga. “Iron Maiden is a pretty heavy band, but to go with something like Lady Gaga, and make it heavier, that’s not something a lot of people have seen, and we think they will enjoy it,” said Iron Gaga drummer Adam Currie, a Rockford High School sophomore.
Coopersville High School junior David Bushman is taking singing duties on “The Trooper” and “Just Dance.” Also a guitarist drummer and pianist, performing as a dedicated singer was new for Bushman.
“I’ve never sang in front of anyone before, so they made me the singer, to kind of break out of my shell,” Bushman said.
