The concept of a Battle of the Bands is epic. Garage practicing, unrefined, young musicians hashing it out under pressure from the crowd. This is why freshmen Marlea Rose and Katie Malfatti thought putting one together for a school project would be an awesome idea.

”We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” said Malfatti and Rose in separate interviews and in exactly the same way.

Putting together an event is tough work. The paper and leg work it requires is slightly less exciting as the idea itself. If all that leg and paperwork is done, though, the payoff is extraordinary: A high school rock off.

Eureka High School offers a program called Environmental and Spatial Technology (known as EAST). The program is project oriented with a emphasis on learning through service to the community and using high-end technology. In the past groups have organized blood drives and educated the public about energy. The EAST lab at Eureka High has been nationally recognized for its excellence in the program. They received the Golden Bell award in 2005 for education in their EAST program.

”Basically you go out into the community and find a problem and you seek a solution to it,” said Malfatti. “We thought young bands weren't getting together and there were not many places for them to play.”

The girls started by sending a flyer out to every high school in the county seeking bands that might want to perform. The ones that got back to them will compete for a trophy in the Eureka High auditorium on Thursday, April 24th.

”We have bands from all over Humboldt. There is one from Ferndale competing,” said Rose. “The farthest band is probably the one from Hoopa.”

She is speaking of Passport to Nowhere. They have members from age 16 to 19 and sound serious about their time in the Spotlight. Grant Rickards and Joel Beeson play guitar, Kovi Engle plays bass and Danielle Smith plays the drums.

Tidal Decay, a death metal band from Eureka, has gained some popularity among young music goers. They will also compete for the trophy and bragging rights. Their MySpace lists them as “five guys who write tasty music and like to jam.”

Other high school bands from around the county include The Snack Packs and The Freaking Awesome Group among others.

The freshmen listed talking to new people as their biggest challenge while working on this project.

”It was hard contacting the bands and e-mailing people we didn't know,” said Rose. “We had to find our school's stage manager and talk to someone about lighting. Talking to the paper is strange too. This is all new to us.”

The bands will be judged by adult members of the community with musical backgrounds and a first second and third place trophy will be awarded to the winners.

”My mom is taking me to pick up the trophies today. We also have voice lessons donated as a prize,” said Rose. “It should be pretty cool.”

If you would like to show your appreciation to these girls for keeping a rock tradition alive, or you just like a good fight check out this event this Thursday in the Eureka High auditorium 6-10 p.m. $5 for adults, $2 with a student body card, $3 for kids without a student body card (4-13). Seniors and children under 4 are free.