There may be no better team builder than music. Last Friday, this truth was proven once again at the Rockin’ The Redhouse corporate band competition held at Syracuse’s Landmark Theater. The event is an annual fundraiser for The Redhouse Arts Center. Friday’s line-up included seven bands: Six Pack (Anheuser Busch), The Side Shifters (Raymond Corporation), The Actuators (Young & Franklin), Petty Ca$h (Bank of New York Mellon), Defense Mechanism (Lockheed Martin), Dinosaurs (CXtec), and The Chillerz (Carrier Corporation). The CXtec Dinosaurs won the competition but, without a doubt, each person on stage had a blast playing their allotted 15-minute set.
For many of these companies, as well as their band members, this is an annual event. A team of fans made up of colleagues, friends, and relatives follow each band. They get down, cheer, and have fun to support a worthy cause.
Lisa DeLelys, lead singer of the Side Shifters, says this is her third year in the competition. “We all enjoy it so much. A couple of the guys in the Side Shifters are in other regular bands, but for me, it’s my once-per-year chance to play rock star. It’s so amazing to be able to play on that stage, benefit a good cause, and meet the coolest people in Syracuse. I look forward to it every year,” says DeLeys whose “day” job is doing product imaging and technical illustration for Raymond’s Parts Distribution Center.
The event’s beneficiary, the nonprofit Redhouse Arts Center, offers performances and educational programs to bring the community together. This year the Center is raising money for a planned move that will allow it to expand its performance spaces and classrooms, and add a Community Arts Center.
Photos credit: Jack Bocchino
