Countdown to Battle # 3: Tommy T & Rebels on the Run

Time to stop messin' around. Pull on your best boots, grab that 10-gallon hat and put on your best partyin' mood: Tommy T & Rebels on the Run are comin' to town.

Tommy "Tommy T" Bommorito has been performing on stages around the St. Louis area for a long time. He started playing the drums around the age of 2, he said in an email last week, and joined his uncle's country band when he was 9.

Countdown to Battle #3: Beau Diamond and the Collective Dream Band

Beau Diamond has been performing publicly for only three years, but he's left an impressive trail of work in that short time.

Beau Diamond and the Collective Dream Band, which Diamond formed last summer, just finished recording its debut full-length album, Keepin' Busy. When it's released later this summer, it will join a Diamond discography sprinkled all over the Internet -- including a full-length as a solo and an EP with the Collective Dream Band.

Countdown to Battle #3: Lewis Creek

Lewis Creek is a country-music trio based in Murphysboro, IL, consisting of singer and guitarist John Guetersloh, bassist Chris Guetersloh and drummer Joe Swafford.

John Guetersloh was the winner in the Adult Division of the Kentucky Opry Talent Search earlier this year. The band stays busy performing in Southeast Missouri and southwestern Illinois.

John Guetersloh maintains a YouTube channel that includes a few videos from a Lewis Creek performance two years ago. The band also is represented with this cut at SoundCloud:

Countdown to Battle #3: Bucko Toby

The seeds of Bucko Toby were planted by a couple of co-workers who shared an interest not so much in playing music as in the ways it can be recorded.

Guitarist Josh Friedrich and bassist Brandon Bischoff, who worked together at a restaurant in Festus, would get together in their down time to discuss Beatles records "and how bands get some of the gnarly sounds that you hear on psychedelic '60s albums," Friedrich recalled. The duo also shared an admiration for bands such as the Flaming Lips and Animal Collective "who made an effort to change their sound from album to album."

Countdown to Battle #3: American Idiot: A Tribute to Green Day

No questions about what you're going to get with American Idiot: A Tribute to Green Day -- all Green Day all the time.

American Idiot, of course, is named after Green Day's iconic 2004 rock opera adapted as a Broadway musical in 2010. The St. Louis outfit was put together two years ago by drummer Eddie Spinaio (who portrays Tre Cool) and lead guitarist Dan Elder (Jason White). Elder appeared on the Sun Valley Jams stage in Battle of the Bands #2 as a member of Hollywood 5.

Flashback to Battle #2: Happy birthday to Brian Glatz of The Find

Remember these guys from Battle #2?

Countdown to Battle #3: Slick Ice Blues

Slick Ice Blues at Battle #1 in May

Slick Ice Blues, the Illinois bunch who got down and dirty with us in May at Battle of the Bands #1, will be the first band to make an encore appearance at Sun Valley Jams.

Best friends Dave "Ice" Collins and Will "Slick" Garner began forming the band in 2011 after what Garner called "an unforgettable trip to Memphis." On that trip, Garner said, the two guitarists "ingested some of the best blues we ever heard" and returned home to start work on a set list. They eventually rounded out their band when bassist Markus Pfile and drummer Ray Foster responded to an ad.

"This band is built with four guys that appreciate good music, the creativity and freedom in writing original music and helping others forget about things while we share the music we love -- blues," Garner wrote in an email.

Countdown to Battle #3: The Langaleers

Think straightforward, riff-based, three-chord rock 'n' roll -- the kind of stuff you hear on that former Sopranos actor's satellite radio station. That's what you can expect from The Langaleers, a Festus band that takes its name from a Stephen King novella about creatures that eat the past.

Songwriter and vocalist Kory Meyer formed The Langaleers after the dissolution of Early Morning Fire, a trio that played around the St. Louis area for a time. Meyer is joined in The Langaleers by lead guitarist Dylan Clubb, bassist Cory Pruneau and drummer Sean Kennedy.

Followup to Battle #2: Les Gruff and the Billy Goat

Just got an email newsletter from Les Gruff and the Billy Goat. It included the following (the italics designate a direct cut-and-paste from the email):

Hey howdy -

Les Gruff and the Billy Goat has a giant, enormous, HUGE announcement:

Countdown to Battle #3: Breach of Peace

Breach of Peace is a five-piece cover band that has been playing around the St. Louis metro area since 2005. At any given moment, the band might break into a rock hit such as Michael Jackson's "Beat It" or Gin Blossom's "Hey Jealousy" or The Strokes' "Last Nite." Or it could be some other popular rock song from the past few decades.

Battle #3: A sneak preview

We'll start counting down soon to Battle of the Bands #3 with introductions to the eight bands scheduled to perform July 5.

In the meantime, I wanted to check in and let you know that we do have a nice slate of music in store. Doesn't matter what you'll be in the mood for. We'll pretty much have everything covered.

If you're in the mood for some blues, we'll have some blues:

Battle #2: What a day it was

Echo Trace wowed everyone.

It's the day after Battle of the Bands #2, which means we at Sun Valley Jams are turning our attention to Battle #3 (1 p.m. on Sunday, July 5; buy tickets from a band member or go to our Tickets page; $10 for adults, children 15 and younger free).

But before we look ahead, let's take one more look at the incredible talent we had on display yesterday. From co-winners Macrobliss and Les Gruff and the Billy Goat and on down the line, every single band that performed yesterday put on a hell of a show.

We have at least one video of a complete song from each of the eight bands on our YouTube channel. Here I'll share a couple of highlights:

Battle #2: Macrobliss, Les Gruff share the title

We had a dead heat in the second edition of our Battle of the Bands.

Veteran roots-rock band Les Gruff and the Billy Goat, who opened the show on a humid Saturday afternoon, and newly formed rocker Macrobliss, the seventh act to perform, finished the contest in a dead heat in voting by fans and judges.

Battle #2 under way with Les Gruff

Battle #2 has begun. Les Gruff and the Billy Goat is on stage to open the show.

We'll keep you updated throughout the day on our Facebook page. Check back here later tonight for a wrapup.

Countdown to Battle #2: Bring the kids, too

We're ready to rock 'n' roll at Sun Valley Jams tomorrow with our second Battle of the Bands. The stage is set, literally. All eight bands are ready to entertain you for a few hours.

Bring your lawn chairs and your blankets. It's general admission, and it's lawn seating. Make sure you get there a little early to plant your flag in a good spot. Gates will open at 2 p.m., the first band will take the stage at 3 p.m., and the last note will be played sometime around 11 p.m. The concession stand will be open the entire time. We'll have plenty of fresh sandwiches, barbecue plates, hot and cold snacks and drinks for the adults and the kids.

Countdown to Battle #2: The bands

So, we've introduced you to all the bands set to perform Saturday at the Battle of the Bands. But with about 40 hours to go before the first act hits the stage at 3 p.m. Saturday, we should take some of that time to enjoy a taste of what's in store.

Countdown to Battle #2: The Find

Singer Tommy Perry and drummer Brian Glatz hooked up about a year ago and formed The Find, a Washington, MO, band that describes its repertoire as "alternative/rock/acoustic/blues/funk with a splash of reggae."

The duo added guitarist Danny LaRue in September and bass player John Johnston a few weeks ago.

Countdown to Battle #2: $2 off tickets

We're getting close to our day of music and fun in the sun this weekend. Which means you only have a couple of days to buy discounted advance tickets to Battle of the Bands #2. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the show begins at 3 p.m.

Buy your tickets now by clicking the Buy Now button down the left sidebar of this page. Do that and save $2 off the gate price -- that's $8 if you buy now, or $10 if you wait until Saturday.

Eight bands. A variety of music, from hard guitar rock to acoustic folk to party and dance beats. You'll hear some veteran pros who have been performing around the St. Louis metro area for years. And you'll discover some talented newbies eager for the chance to impress. Truly there will be something -- a lot of things -- for everyone.

Countdown to Battle #2: Exit 181

Exit 181 at The Office Bar and Night Club in Crystal City. 

Come out to Sun Valley Jams on Saturday, and you will forever be able to say, "Hey, I saw Exit 181 when they were just starting out."

The quartet is based a mile north of Exit 180 on Interstate 55 -- which, by the way, is the one you'll want to use to get to the Battle of the Bands. (Or if you're coming from the other direction, get off at Exit 185.)

These guys haven't been together long: They just played their first gig in April, and they haven't even had time to release their first CD yet. But it has been recorded, and the band plans a release party in Arnold in a couple of weeks.

Exit 181 plays, according to its Facebook page, "a bed of rockin' originals with some classic rock covers to keep the feet warm." You can also follow the band on Twitter and buy their songs at Bandcamp. Here is the band's Soundcloud playlist:

Flashback to Battle #1: Lunar Levitation

We learned on the Twitter that Monday was Lunar Levitation singer Riley Shane's birthday. Not sure which one -- somewhere between 17 and about 26 would be my guess.

So it got us to reminiscing: Remember when a then-young @rileyadkisson and his buddies did this way back in May when they won the first Sun Valley Jams Battle of the Bands?



We're still waiting for word on whether Lunar Levitation will be available to return for Battle #5: The Grand Finale on Sept. 6. We'll try to let you know before we all get too old.

Countdown to Battle #2: Chad Randall Band

Fresh off a short tour that took the Desoto quartet to venues in Tennessee and Illinois last month, the Chad Randall Band returns home to Jefferson County with its message of Christian truth and values.

Singer Chad Randall, percussionist Kanoa Benz, guitarist Zach Huffman and bassist J-Mar deliver their gospel rock in a style they call "aggressive acoustic." The band is active on Facebook and Twitter and has posted a couple of songs at ReverbNation.

Here's a YouTube clip of the band from a performance a couple of weeks ago in Nashville:

Countdown to Battle #2: Macrobliss

Macrobliss, a newly formed rock trio out of Jefferson and Franklin counties, plans to play some original tunes Saturday at the Battle of the Bands. Guitarist Joshua Feeney says he met bass guitarist Aaron Cheatham and drummer Tyler McDermott at an open mic recently, "and it was so obvious we needed to form a band."

Feeney says the guys are non-formally trained and learn and create their songs by ear. "Our vision is to play music that sends a message of love and happiness," he says.

Countdown to Battle #2: Yankee BBQ Band's new video

Yankee BBQ Band just posted this, and it's a must-hear -- a kickin' Paul Butterfield cover. My guess is that you'll hear this one next Saturday in Pevely.

Countown to Battle #2: Les Gruff and the Billy Goat

Les Gruff and the Billy Goat is a country-folk project of St. Louis singer-songwriter Billy Croghan, who kicked off his prolific career singing at open-mic nights. Croghan works with several musicians who move in and out of Les Gruff and the Billy Goat.

Croghan currently is working with Scott Iman, Tony Compton, Dylan Duke, David Roach and Sean Kamery, according to the band's Facebook page.

Les Gruff and the Billy Goat has issued two EPs -- A Light in the Dark in 2012 and River Road in 2014 -- as well as the full-length A Cup of Coffee, an Apple and a Suicide in 2013. Croghan is selling all three collections at the band's Bandcamp page. The full-length is available for streaming with Spotify. Croghan also streams his songs at Soundcloud and is active on ReverbNation and Twitter.

Croghan has a few videos on YouTube. Here's one from about six months ago:

Countdown to Battle #2: Hollywood 5

St. Louis group Hollywood 5 bills itself as a high-energy dance/rock party band. The group has been performing at weddings, corporate parties, festivals and nightclubs around the metro area for more than a decade.

Riverfront Times named Hollywood 5 the city's Best Cover Band in 2005. The outfit's repertoire includes classic dance songs such as "Love Shack," '80s standards like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and classic rock tunes such as "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" as well as modern hits like "All About That Bass" and "Uptown Funk." Click here to browse the band's master song list.

Singer Pixie Houska is joined onstage by guitarist Dan Elder, drummer Dave Batchelor, bassist Mike Gregory and guitarist Brian Elder.

The band is active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Hollywood 5 recently posted this video resume on YouTube:

Countdown to Battle #2: Echo Trace

Echo Trace is a duo out of Belleville, IL, who have been performing together since 2005, originally in the alternative band Descending New Angels.

Songwriter, guitarist and singer Randy Shanks and percussionist Keith Thurnau went acoustic with Echo Trace after DNA disbanded in 2011. They released a CD in October 2012 and plan to release another one this month.

Shanks and Thurnau also are members of Divide the Empire, which also is planning a CD release.

These guys have playing around the area for quite awhile. They've got chops. Come to the Battle of the Bands #2 on June 13 to check them out. In the meantime, you can listen to several Echo Trace tunes at ReverbNation, follow the band on Facebook and catch a few videos on YouTube. Here's one of them:

Countdown to Battle #2: Yankee BBQ Band

Every couple of days, we'll give you a quick preview of one of the bands scheduled to perform at the Battle of the Bands #2. We'll cover them all for you leading up to the June 13 event.

Today, have a look at the Yankee BBQ Band. Yankee BBQ calls St. Louis home and includes lead guitarist and vocalist Bob Berzack, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Tom Reese, bass guitarist and vocalist Terry Sudholt, drummer and vocalist Pat Dillender and boom-bass player and vocalist Jan Wafler Sudholt.

Yankee BBQ describes its music as Americana, rock 'n' roll, blues, alt country, scorching jams and torch ballads.

The folks in Yankee BBQ keep fans informed of their gigs on their Facebook page. Here is a short clip of the band in a live performance at 1380 AM: The X in February.