Battle of the Bands ends with unlikely winner

Pointing out that they had “more heavy metal than any of the other bands” the Forward Brass Band took first place in the Battle of the Bands competition in front of the grandstand at the Steele County Free Fair.
D-KO, of Rochester; Riptide, from Albert Lea; 9th Planet Out, from Rochester; Discord Curse, from Owatonna and Forward Brass Band all took to the stage Wednesday night all playing before an enthusiastic crowd.
While four of the groups were what you would expect to find at a battle of the bands, the Forward Brass Band was just a little different, as it included trombones, saxophones, trumpets, tubas and drums.
As the band waited to go onstage, they explained that all of the band members are students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and were brought to Owatonna and the Battle of the Bands by their lone member from Owatonna, Trent Spatenka.
The group is entering its fifth year, Spatenka said, adding that most of the band members are not music majors.
One of the band members described the group as having more heavy metal than any of the other bands participating while Spatenka said they were “pure acoustic wonderfulness.”
No matter how they described themselves, the audience quickly warmed up to the group, even though they may not have known what to expect when they took to the stage.
Spatenka said the group performs at numerous events on campus and around the Eau Claire area, and they also visit area schools where they encourage students to remain active in music after they leave school.
The band plays a variety of music ranging, from traditional spirituals to the latest hit songs.
They also probably set the record for travel as one member, tenor sax player Mary Rodberg, traveled five and a half hours Wednesday afternoon just to perform at the fair.