SOUTHERN ROCK

Mondays 5-7 pm

Southern Rock encompasses more than just music generated by bands south of the Mason-Dixon Line. It’s a vibe and emotion that stems from a long painful history of racism, oppression, economic hardship, and classism. However the very spirit of Southern Rock is one of healing and reconciliation. Rock and Roll has deep roots in the South, and this show will feature bluesy ‘70s southern rockers like The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Molly Hatchet, along with modern practitioners like Gary Clark Jr., Tedeschi-Trucks Band, The Black Crowes, and Larkin Poe. The Southern Rock show will thrust guitar players to the forefront with guitar harmonies and advanced soloing that often goes beyond the pentatonic scale. Bass players will dig deep into groove playing. Drummers will learn to play through different feels like shuffles, boogies, and half-time and double-time transitions. Keyboardists will be challenged with new styles as they utilize diverse sounds ranging from piano to Hammond organ to Rhodes electric piano. Vocalists will gain an understanding of Southern-style harmony and emotive singing. This show offers many challenges for ambitious and experienced players!

BRITISH INVASION

Mondays 7-9 pm

The mid-1960s cultural phenomenon known as “The British Invasion” refers to the sudden and ubiquitous popularity of British rock and roll among the American youth of the time. The catalog of music created by these artists - including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks among others - propelled Rock & Roll music to the mainstream of cultural relevance where it remains to this day. The British Invasion bands took inspiration from Blues, Folk, and early Rock & Roll and combined these influences in an exciting way that can teach both our students and audiences the foundation of modern pop and rock music. British Invasion is a prime show choice for all instruments and experience levels to learn the foundations of Rock music, and especially perfect for emerging players who are looking to take the next step in widening their musical repertoire. Some notable song selections may include The Beatles’ “Twist And Shout”, The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”, and The Yardbirds’ “For Your Love”.

ARCTIC MONKEYS vs THE STROKES

Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 pm

The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys — no two bands better define 2000s Indie Rock. While distinct in style, both share razor-sharp guitar interplay, driving rhythms, clever lyricism, and undeniable swagger. In the late 1990s, New York City’s Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture, and Fabrizio Moretti formed The Strokes, igniting a global revival with their seminal 2001 debut, Is This It, and following it with hits off Room on Fire and First Impressions of Earth. Across the pond, Sheffield teenagers Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders, and Andy Nicholson (later replaced by Nick O'Malley) formed Arctic Monkeys. They exploded onto the scene with 2006’s Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not before evolving into festival headliners through landmark albums like Favourite Worst Nightmare and AM. Today, both acts stand as modern rock icons whose catalogs continue to inspire. The Arctic Monkeys vs The Strokes show will challenge School of Rock students with locked-in rhythmic discipline, interlocking guitar riffs, and dynamic vocal delivery, making it the perfect training ground for mastering modern indie rock fundamentals.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD

Wednesdays 5-7 pm

Parental Advisory: Some lyrical content in this show may not be appropriate for all students.

Avenged Sevenfold stands as one of the most technical and influential forces in modern heavy metal. Formed in 1999 in Huntington Beach, California, high school friends M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, and late founding drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan were soon joined by lead guitarist Synyster Gates and bassist Johnny Christ. Blending aggressive metalcore roots with theatrical songwriting, classic thrash, and dual-guitar harmonies, the band vaulted into the mainstream with 2005's breakout album City of Evil and its iconic hit "Bat Country". Through loss and constant creative evolution, landmark releases like 2007's self-titled record, 2010's chart-topping Nightmare, and 2013's Hail to the King cemented their status as arena-headlining heavy metal titans. Today, Avenged Sevenfold continues to push the boundaries of hard rock and progressive metal, inspiring a new generation of heavy musicians worldwide. The Avenged Sevenfold show will challenge School of Rock students with blisteringly fast guitar solos, sweep picking, complex rhythmic meters, and demanding vocal control, giving developing players an elite workout in technical execution and modern metal musicianship. Be prepared for one of the most challenging shows we can offer!

POWER POP

Wednesdays 7-9 pm

Power Pop — no genre better blends the raw energy of rock and roll with the irresistible hooks of classic pop. Driven by bright, chiming guitars, soaring vocal harmonies, and driving beats, Power Pop took off in the 1970s through pioneers like Beach Boys, Cheap Trick, and The Knack. Drawing heavily from the British Invasion sound of The Beatles and The Who, these bands turned up the distortion and cranked the tempo. The genre evolved through the 1990s and 2000s as acts like Weezer, The Killers, and Jimmy Eat World fused pop sensibilities with alternative rock grit. Today, Power Pop remains a cornerstone of songwriting excellence, proving that a great chord progression and a killer chorus never go out of style. The Power Pop show will challenge School of Rock students with tight harmony arrangements, precise rhythm guitar work, and high-energy stage presence, providing an essential masterclass in melody, structure, and hook-driven performance.

NEW WAVE

Thursdays 6:30-8:30 pm

The New Wave genre incorporates a variety of different sounds and styles that were prevalent at the end of the 1970s and expanded until the end of the 1980s. New Wave began as an extension of Punk Rock, which changed the music scene starting in 1976 in the US and the UK. American power-pop groups like The Cars and The Knack were New Wave, while the Disco-inspired hits of Blondie, and the Reggae-influenced rock of the Police fell under the same umbrella. Gloomy goth rockers like The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees and dance-oriented synth pop artists like Gary Numan and Eurythmics are all considered New Wave bands as well. One unifying factor shared by most, but not all, of the New Wave artists was an increasing use of electronic instrumentation, specifically the synthesizer. Many '80s New Wave artists, Soft Cell and Eurythmics among them, used the synthesizer as the foundation of their sound, while others like The Cars and The Police integrated the synth seamlessly into their punchy guitar pop. By the end of the 1980s, New Wave as a genre had splintered and the term became increasingly meaningless. The spirit of New Wave would live on in Indie Rock and College Rock, soon to become known as Alternative. The legacy of New Wave is still felt today as rock artists continue to experiment with synth textures and embody the quirky and offbeat image that made the New Wave era such a vibrant and influential time.

CHRIS CORNELL

Fridays 5:30-7:30 pm

Chris Cornell — widely celebrated as one of the defining vocalists in rock history. Known for his incredible four-octave range, soulful blues power, and profound songwriting, Cornell leaves behind a multi-decade legacy spanning grunge, alternative, and hard rock. Rising to global prominence in Seattle as the frontman for Soundgarden, he helped shape the 1990s rock landscape with groundbreaking albums like Badmotorfinger and Superunknown, delivering timeless hits like "Black Hole Sun" and "Outshined". Beyond Soundgarden, Cornell’s artistry knew no bounds—leading the tribute project Temple of the Dog with future members of Pearl Jam, co-founding the 2000s supergroup Audioslave alongside members of Rage Against the Machine, and crafting a diverse solo career. The Chris Cornell show will challenge School of Rock students with complex tunings, heavy drop-D riffing, shifting time signatures, and soaring vocal dynamic range, providing an essential masterclass in vocal power, expressive phrasing, and modern rock musicianship.

GREEN DAY

Saturdays 11:30-1:30 pm

Parental Advisory: Some lyrical content in this show may not be appropriate for all students.

Green Day rose to prominence in the early '90s as one of the largest bands in Punk Rock. Mixing Pop-style songwriting with Punk Rock aesthetics, Green Day has continued to be one of, if not the most, successful act in the sub-genre of pop-punk. Ranging from their early hits from the album Dookie to their later releases like American Idiot, this show is sure to excite any student. The Green Day show will offer a wide variety of guitar parts which are perfect for beginner and intermediate players. Advanced players will be challenged with marrying musical accuracy with stage showmanship. Drummers will be challenged to gain the endurance necessary to power through high tempo songs while more beginner players can build their chops with some of the slower more ballad centered material. Vocalists will focus on Billie Joe Armstrong’s fast staccato delivery, the use of chest voice and belting, as well as exploring the use of the major scales. In addition, proficient vocalists will be challenged by the various harmony concepts. When it comes to punk-style bass parts, Mike Dirnt lays down solid punk rock bass tracks, ranging from driving root notes to dynamic riffing.

AEROSMITH vs GUNS N ROSES

Saturdays 1:30-3:30 pm

Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses — two generational powerhouses that define the dangerous, blues-infused edge of hard rock. While distinct in style, both share iconic frontmen, blistering guitar duos, gritty street attitude, and an endless stream of arena anthems. Formed in Boston in 1970, Aerosmith — Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer — ruled the 1970s with hits off Toys in the Attic and Rocks before staging one of rock's greatest late-80s comebacks. Meanwhile, on the Sunset Strip, Guns N' Roses — Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adler — shattered the rock landscape with their explosive 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction and the monumental Use Your Illusion albums. Today, both acts stand as stadium-filling icons whose legacies continue to inspire. The Aerosmith vs Guns N' Roses show will challenge School of Rock students with greasy pentatonic solos, expressive blues phrasing, high-octane vocal range, and heavy swing grooves, making it an intense masterclass in pure rock swagger and performance energy.

BILLY JOEL vs ELTON JOHN

Saturdays 3:30-5:30 pm

Billy Joel and Elton John — no two artists better define the gold standard of piano-driven pop and rock. While each brings their own distinct flair, what connects them is unmistakable: virtuosic piano mechanics, timeless hitmaking, masterful storytelling, and show-stopping stage presence. Emerging in the late 1960s across the Atlantic, British prodigy Elton John teamed up with lyricist Bernie Taupin to ignite a legendary run in the 1970s, releasing landmark albums like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Honky Château packed with hits like "Rocket Man" and "Bennie and the Jets." Meanwhile, Long Island native Billy Joel crafted his own signature sound, bursting into the mainstream with 1973's Piano Man before releasing defining albums like The Stranger and 52nd Street, packed with classics like "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" and "My Life." Together, their legendary co-headlining "Face to Face" tours became the longest-running and most successful concert duet in rock history. The Billy Joel vs Elton John show will challenge School of Rock students with complex dynamic piano arrangements, classical-influenced keyboard technique, rich vocal harmonies, and tight rhythm section coordination, providing an essential masterclass in pop-rock songwriting and grand stage performance.

End of Season Showcase: FEBRUARY 7TH, 2027

Check out the full setlists below: