Rock and roll returned to the VFW Hall in Hasbrouck Heights this past Saturday night as Jersey Shows once again hosted a Battle of the Bands event. The all-ages show provides teens in Heights and the surrounding area a chance to see local rock bands perform live.

Two stages were set on opposite sides of the room, one more electric, the other leaning towards a more acoustic sound. Several bands were on the bill including Sharply Out of Focus, Outro and Tidal Wave Down. 

North Jersey’s Maeraki consists of Rob Jennings, Chris Stoppiello, and Matt Colombo.  They featured bass, synthesizers, keyboards and drums, and had an alternative pop sound that is sort of comparable to Crowded House or Modern English. 

Fort Lee’s Pedal Pushers, a self described all girl pop/punk rock band, did an ‘acoustic’ set without their keyboards and drums.  Singer/guitarist Kimzy B. and singer/bassist Krysse B. rocked a good 25 minute set.

Kim has a voice reminiscent of Kay Hanley from the band Letters to Cleo, while Krysse sounds a bit like  singerAvril Lavigne. The girls enjoyed chatting with their audience between songs, and after their original work, concluded with a Lady Gaga cover and unique version of “You’re the One That I Want” from the musical “Grease.”

The music was unfortunately interrupted at one point when a member of the band Sunflower and the Seeds took ill during the performance. Medical attention was needed and an ambulance was called. The band member never lost consciousness and was talking to those around him. He was transported to the hospital to be sure he was okay.

After things settled down the rock continued with the band Something Cool.  The foursome from Bloomfield rocked out with songs featuring syncopation and time and tempo shifts.

The band 3D Accelerator closed out the show. 

JerseyShows puts on shows at the Hasbrouck Heights VFW once a month and more information can be found on their web site.