Walking into the Tally-ho in downtown Leesburg, smoke hovers around the ceiling to allow the lasers and other effects to perform better. The stage is covered in amplifiers and other equipment, and a massive Tally-ho logo rules over the center of the stage. Backstage, dozens of musicians check equipment and warm up while others relax and have dinner, waiting for their turn to play.
On March 14, the Tally-ho in downtown Leesburg hosted a Battle of the Bands in which twelve acts competed for cash prizes and studio time at the local Blue Room Productions Studio in Potomac, Maryland. Three of those acts featured members from County, including the eventual winner, Antigravity.
The event was hosted by senior Pierson Lee, who hosted the event for the first time after previously being involved with the event over the last four years. Lee is the vice president of the Youth Advisory Council at County, which, in addition to hosting food drives and other events, has helped with the Battle of the Bands in recent years. “It’s been a really fun experience doing that,” Lee said.
Sophomore Will Schweiker was one of four members of the eventual winner, and the only member from County. Schweiker began his musical journey when he started learning guitar in 2019. Schweiker’s influences include guitarists Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
The winning band Antigravity, of which Schweiker is a member, formed last July. Schweiker and his bandmates attend the same School of Rock music school. Despite taking lessons both there and at school, Schweiker and his bandmates still try to practise together every Sunday.
This was the first time for both Schweiker and his group in attending the Battle of the Bands. He also noted that it was the band’s most important show yet. “This was…one of the biggest,” Schweiker said.
Antigravity performed three songs at the battle of the bands, “All My Life,” and three original songs, “Starry,” “Latin,” and “Crestfall.” All four members of the band contributed to the tracks.
As winners of the event, Antigravity received a $500 prize and a day of studio time at Blue Room Productions. The second place band Suncrest, which features County junior Max Merrit, took home $300 and a half day at the same studio.
Both Schweiker and Lee were happy to see a County band win. “We’ve had a couple bands from County go there…and it was nice seeing them [and] it was good supporting them,” Lee said.
