Valley bands

January 11, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Here’s a list of area bands scheduled to perform at the 12th annual Tri-C High School Rock Off taking place this month at the House of Blues in Cleveland.

RADIO BACK-UP

(5 p.m. Jan. 18)

Members: singer-guitarist Matt Virostek, drummer Jared Buker, guitarist Steve Wright and bassist Doug Helmick

High schools represented: Poland Seminary High School and Struthers High School

Style: indie rock

Influences: The Stray Cats, Motion City Soundtrack and Street Light Manifesto

Aspirations for Rock Off: “We don’t really care much about winning,” Virostek said. “It’s more just having a good time playing at a real cool place and stuff like that.”

Tidbits: Radio Back-Up played last year’s Rock Off. Even though the quartet didn’t make it to the finals, the band was content with its performance.

Songs to watch for: the strange-sounding “Wasting Away” and the rocking “Wake Up”

Odds of winning: “We hope to at least make it to the finals,” Virostek said. “I don’t know about winning it all. It depends on what the other bands are like this year. I know a lot of the good ones have graduated, but there are still a lot of talented groups out there.”

www.myspace.com/radiobackuprock

THE CARPET KINGS

(5 p.m. Jan. 26)

Members: guitarist Joey Giampietro, singer Ben Durflinger, drummer Steve Wiesen and bassist Ryan Nasci

High school represented: Liberty High School

Style: rock/blues/pop

Influences: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin

Aspirations for Rock Off: “We’re hoping to get to the next round,” Nasci said. “But really, we’re really just hoping to play for people and have fun.”

Tidbits: Formed less than six months ago with entering the Rock Off in mind, the quartet consists of all seniors. This means it’s a one-time deal for The Carpet Kings.

Songs to watch for: the poppy “The Joke is on You,” the funky “Change” and a cover of

the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “My Lovely Man”

Odds of winning: “Hopefully pretty good,” Nasci said. “This would be a our first show as a band, so we’re just hoping to have fun. I think it could happen.”

www.myspace.com/thecarpetkings

LAKESHORE

(4 p.m. Jan. 27)

Members: singer-guitarist Ryan Dutton, guitarist Pat Matey, bassist Dan Macmurchy and drummer Mark Modarelli

High school represented: Boardman High School

Style: pop rock

Influences: Smashing Pumpkins and Matchbox Twenty

Aspirations for Rock Off: “We’ve been going at it for a long time,” Dutton said. “Last spring we were in another Rock Off at Kent State, and we also played at Peabody’s DownUnder before. So, I just have a really good feeling.”

Tidbits: A few of the members of Lakeshore have been playing together since they were eighth-graders at Glenwood Middle School in Boardman.

Songs to watch for: “After Thoughts,” “James Lovewalk” and a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”

Odds of winning: “We’re going there to win,” Dutton said. “That’s what we’re doing. We’re just there to win.”