SAFFORD — Morenci is the home for the best music in southeastern Arizona . . . at least for the next 12 months.
Morenci’s 3rd Stone was crowned champion of the Double R Communications 2022 Battle of the Bands this weekend at the Graham County Fairgrounds.
“It was nice to play with a lot of bands that had a lot of talent,” said Joe Chavarria. “It was just nice to play.”
3rd Stone, made up of Chavarria on guitar and vocals, Joe Guzzo on bass, and Dano Lewis on drums, took home $2,000 for their win. Guzzo was also named best bassist and Chavarria took home the Jim Aker Award as best guitarist, sponsored by Sarah’s Bullpen.
Named best vocalist was Adrian Thomas with One Way Sky, which also took third place and a $300 gift certificate to Richard’s Music. One Way Sky, from the Gila River Indian Reservation, only traveled with two — Thomas on vocals, guitar and Native American flute, and Cody Bruguier on drums — as the other band members weren’t able to make the trip.
“We used to do this, just me and (Bruguier) all the time before, when we first started the band. So it was actually a relief to just play me and him,” Thomas said.
One Way Sky also performed their new single, “Indian Route 15,” which will be available for download Friday on Spotify, i-Tunes, Amazon Music and other platforms.
A $500 gift certificate to Richard’s Music for second-place band went to Happy and the Ghosts, made up of Nathan Salas on bass, Jay Brimhall on drums, and Jace Hughes on guitar, vocals and, for the first time at Battle of the Bands, the kazoo.
“It felt really good until the last song (when a guitar string) broke right at the beginning. But it was still good,” Hughes said.
The Cody Gibson Band captured two individual honors: Gene Garcia was named best drummer and Butch Goff won best specialty instrument for his work on the steel guitar.
Battle of the Bands ended up a two-day event, thanks to Mother Nature. A more than two-hour rain delay resulted in the final band of the night, Novices No Longer, taking the stage after midnight Sunday.
Novices No Longer played three originals which will be on an upcoming EP. Release date will be announced on the band’s Instagram page.
Also taking place throughout the day was the Nickel Picnic, a fund-raiser for the Safford Rotary Club; and the SEACUS Beer Tent, with all proceeds going to support Meals on Wheels.
Sponsors for the 2022 Battle of the Bands included: Kempton Chevrolet, who sponsored the stage; Mack’s Auto Supply/NAPA; Bud Light; Swire Coca-Cola; Sparklight; Freeport-McMoRan; Richard’s Music; Audio Visions; Brando’s Fun N’ Sun Travel and Cruise; Trophies ‘N Tees; Naturesweet Tomatoes; Bayacan; and the Double R Communications family of radio stations, Kat Kountry 94.5, Sunny 102. 3 and News Talk KATO AM 1230.
