Last Dream looks to make vision a reality at Rock Off

January 22, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

South Range sophomore Michael Kuhns has been dreaming about the High School Rock Off that takes place annually in the Rock Hall City. Years ago he attended the event with an older sibling, but it wasn’t until last year’s battle of the bands that he felt inspired to put together his own group — Last Dream — with the Rock Off in Mind.

“We’ve been around since last summer and, basically, have just been focused on this year’s Rock Off,” said bassist Kuhns, who lives in Canfield. “At that point, I was taking bass lessons, and I knew our drummer, who was friends with a guitarist who would be willing to sing. That’s how the band was formed.”

Boasting a punk and alternative rock sound that has been compared to the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blink-182, Last Dream — Kuhns, singer-guitarist Scott Erb, guitarist David Marsilio and drummer Nate Weingart — sort of made its debut at a First Night Canfield event. The problem was Erb couldn’t make the gig, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“We actually added a guitarist for that show, and now he’s in the band,” Kuhns said. “He’ll be with us at the Rock Off, so things worked out well. It was good to get on stage with at least two of the other three people that we were playing with at the Rock Off.

“It was difficult and weird not having a singer, but toward the end of the show, we started to grow on the audience. So that was good.”

If anything, the singerless group had to play an instrumental set, which meant a greater focus on the music. Kuhns said the entire affair forced them to hone their skills that much more, which he believes will come in handy when Last Dream plays its semifinal Rock Off gig Saturday at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The 19th annual Tri-C High School Rock Off culminates with 15 bands participating in the Final Exam on Feb. 7 at the downtown Cleveland venue. The contestants are all vying for prizes, which include $1,000 cash, $250 for their respective high-school music program and a $1,000 gift card from the Guitar Center to the Rock Off winner. Second place receives $250 cash and $100 for their respective high-school music program, while third place takes home $100 cash. All of the bands that make it to the Final Exam will receive a $25 gift card from the Guitar Center.

The winning group gets a highly coveted slot opening for a national band at a Live Nation venue or the House of Blues. They also appear on the Tri-C cable television program Crooked River Groove performing a 45-minute concert in front of a studio audience while being professionally videotaped and recorded. The band also will be featured on Tri-C Emmy Award-winning program “Words & Music” with an interview and unplugged performance.

Kuhns said Last Dream plans on performing original songs ranging from the frenetic “Stupid” to the blink-182-sounding “Does,” as well as Red Hot Chili Peppers cover “Can’t Stop.”

“Depending on the competition there, we can make it to the finals,” Kuhns said. “I think we sound really good. Everything is tight, and if we can get with the crowd and have enough stage presence, I think we can take it.”

Last Dream is scheduled to play at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rock Hall. For more information, go to kisscleveland.com/rockoff.