Cross Eyed shows rocking the mod
By Mark Sawyer
Hutt Valley High School musician Keziah Alcorn rocked out to win the award for best female musicianship at the Smokefreerockquest regional finals held at the Lower Hutt Town Hall last week. Six bands from Hutt Valley High School made it through to the regional finals of the competition, which are seen as a launching pad for emerging kiwi bands. The Hutt first place winner was four-piece all girl rockers Crossed Eye Mary, who turned it on in front of a few hundred people at the Town Hall. Second place went to Crunk-O-Saurus Rex from Hutt International Boys' School, and third place went to Styli and Raci from Hutt Valley High. Styli and Raci guitarist Riley Harter was pleased with the duo?s performance, ?We were excited to have come third out of the 15 bands competing. ?There was a lot of good music being played on the night ? it was a tough competition,? he says. Hutt Valley High alternative band ?Basement Squad? and heavy metal hard hitters ?Sublux?, also made it to the regional finals. Head of Music at Hutt Valley High Grace Davey says the competition is a unique opportunity for her students to perform with high-end production equipment. ?There?s a high-end PA system and full-time sound engineer to mix the bands while they play live. "It?s a step up in production for our students and a valuable experience to play with the type of gear the professionals? use. "It often improves their performance, because the sound quality is that much better," she says. Although the Smokefreerockquest competition is not part of the NCEA assessment at the school, Mrs Davey says it supports students' musical development.
