Battle of the Bands: Band Biographies

Battle of the Bands: Next Gen, hosted by WZND and The Castle Theatre, is on Thursday, November 14th, at The Castle Theatre (209 E Washington Street, Bloomington, IL). Bands performing include Blind Baby, Loose 9000, Cats and Dragons, From Within, Peng, Short Notice, and The Occasion. Tickets are available both online before the show for $15 and the day of the show for $20. Doors open at 5:30pm, and music starts at 6:30pm.

Blind Baby

Three piece rock band from Newport 🏴󠁧

Loose 9000

Jack O’Mahoney – Bass 

Kendall Carter – Guitar  

Sean Duffy – Drums  

Joey Unger – Keytar 

Alt Rock Loose 9000 is a musical group from Bloomington-Normal, IL that began as a jazz quartet in the Summer of ’22. Later in the year, influenced by the peculiar flavor of that Fall’s wind, the band underwent a spiritual metamorphosis and began playing original rock music inspired by jazz, punk, and psychedelia. Loose 9000 aims to create noises that defy description and sensations that shape connections between hearts. 

Cats and Dragons

Cats and Dragons is an alternative indie band from Geneseo Illinois. Members include lead singer Caleb Durian, rhythm guitarist Josiah King, lead guitarist Asher Nelson, bassist Paul Aguilar, and drummer Logan Noble. Cats and Dragons is recently emerging into the live scene in Bloomington-Normal, after strictly being a studio band for 4 years. With 3 album releases, multiple single releases, and a brand new EP, Cats and Dragons continues to record and create unique music for a broad audience. 

From Within

Ian Hale – vocals and guitar 

Jaxon Savage – drums  

Reece Hooker – guitar and backing vocals 

Jon Manke – bass  

We are from Bloomington/Normal. Our sound is a mix of 90’s alternative and grunge, heavy metal, and just some good ol’ rock and roll. Our EP, WFO, was recorded at Oxide Lounge with Tony Sanfilipo producing the record, it has been out since April and is available on all streaming platforms 

Peng

Members: Makel West- guitar & vocals, Seth Valverde-keyboards, Ethan Weitekamp-Bass, Nick Saathoff-Drums We’re all from Bloomington, our musical style is indie pop with some psychedelia and jazz!

Short Notice

You could throw a watermelon down a whale’s aorta and it wouldn’t even notice.

The Occasion