Local Bands Chosen to Play Extreme Thing

Fans Chose Seven Bands to Rock XPOZ Stage at Festival March 29
When looking for local bands to play this year’s Findlay Chevrolet’s Extreme Thing Sports and Music Festival, organizers looked to the fans. After the last preliminary concert was held on March 19, This Romantic Tragedy, Val-halla, Think, The Seventh Plague, The Countdown, Ministry of Love and Eyes Like Diamonds prevailed to rock the XPOZ stage at the festival March 29. The seven bands were voted into the gig by fans that bought tickets to six preliminary competitions and voted online.

Concerts were held on Wednesdays from Feb. 13 through March 19 at Jillian’s in downtown Las Vegas. The top seven hardest working bands secured their spots on stage. Bands will perform at various times throughout the festival from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Desert Breeze Skate Park, 8275 Spring Mountain Road at Durango Drive. The festival, now in its 13th year, will feature bands Pennywise, Chiodos, Escape the Fate, Nonpoint, Streetlight Manifesto, Alesana and In This Moment on the main stage along with a world class BMX Dirt Jump Competition hosted by local pro-rider Ricardo Laguna, professional wrestling by Adrenaline Unleashed and the Vegas AmJam Skate and BMX amateur competition.

Val-halla, out of Henderson, Nev. is Tyler Simmons, 15; Jake Massanari, 15; and Andrew Decker, 11. The band recently finished recording a 10-song CD with plans to release it in April. This Romantic Tragedy is a hardcore, experimental band that relies on guitar and keyboard harmonies and strong rhythms by Jay Camillerri, 22; David Diaz, 16; Kyle Huender, 18; Carlin Leavitt, 17; Mark Neuhardt, 16; and Gabe Centeno, 16. Eyes Like Diamonds was created in the wake of the A Dying Fate break up. Members Farahn Gaiter,18; Mason Wright, 18; Aaron Aufman, 19; and Tony Pell, 19, picked up former Fletch vocalist Diego Perez, 19, and created the band with pop and heavy tendencies. And the list goes on. Every band has a story and is psyched to play on the XPOZ stage.

Extreme Thing, produced by Clark County Parks & Recreation and House of Blues Concerts, is Nevada’s only premier action sports and music festival. Tickets are $17 in advance, $20 day of show, if available. All ages are welcome.

Only a personal bottle of water can be brought to the festival along with still cameras, sunscreen and cash, as there is no ATM on site and no re-entry. And array of food will be available, from barbecue to Thai, along with beverages. No alcohol will be sold. No animals, coolers, weapons or chairs are permitted.

Sponsors include Findlay Chevrolet , Jillian’s Las Vegas, 107.5 FM Xtreme Radio, City Life, My LVTV, The CW Las Vegas and XPOZ. Those interested can visit the Web site at www.extremething.com. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.hob.com or by phone at (702) 474-4000. Additional information can be found by calling Clark County Parks and Recreation at 455-8200 or visiting the Web site at www.accessclarkcounty.com/parks.