Bands battle for Jill's House

Four local bands battled each other for a good cause Saturday at Dunn Meadow as part of "Jammin' for Jill."\nThe event, sponsored by Union Board and Residence Halls Association, pitted the bands against one another from 3 to 6:30 p.m. All activities were free to the public, but everyone was asked to donate to Jill's House, a non-profit organization working to raise money to build a residence for cancer patients and their caregivers while they receive treatment in Bloomington.\nBands Unreel, The Presidency, Divine Definition and Coinslot each had a half hour to impress the judges and the crowd.\nThe bands were all judged on the basis of talent, creativity, stage presence, audience participation and overall "ass-kickocity," as listed on the official judging ballot.\n"We wanted a variety of music so that (the event) would appeal to more people," said junior Victor Grossi, RHA vice president of programming. \nThe event did appeal to more people than in the past, he said.\n"Within the first performance, there were double the people we had last year," Grossi said. "It has always been a good event in the past, but we changed it in some ways to make it bigger. Each year we want to make it bigger."\nFreshman Oliver McGraw went to Dunn Meadow with friends to listen to the bands.\n"I don't usually listen to this genre, but these guys are awesome," McGraw said about The Presidency, a ska group.\nThe event didn't just interest students either.\n"It's set up well, they have something for the kids," said Jenny Akins, an IU alumnus visiting from Chicago who brought her twin boys to the event to climb and jump on the inflatable activities provided.\n"I like the bands," she said. "There's a good mix."\nGrossi estimated the event attracted around 400 people, and raised about $100 in cash donations.\nThis year's successful attendance can be attributed to the collaboration between RHA and Union Board, Grossi said.\n"Working together has been tremendous and so helpful for both of us," Grossi said. "We can do twice as much."\nGrossi said RHA is interested in similar partnerships in the future.\n"We are looking for other organizations to work together with us which might not have the funding to put on activities, but we're willing to help them out," Grossi said.\nCoinslot band member and junior Chris Seleski, whose band won the competition, also saw the event as a success.\n"It's free, it's good music for a good cause and it's a beautiful day," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Haley Beck at habeck@indiana.edu.