After playing at eight different campuses in February, FC hosted the finals of the West Sierra League Talent Show and two campus acts and a tap act stood out amongst the 16 finalists on Feb. 23.

Mike Prentice and Derek O’Brien won the band category as the two outplayed the seven other bands, despite a close competition from Tranquillity’s “La Mama” band that played a rousing rendition of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.”

“Our song doesn’t really have a name,” Prentice said, “but we call it ‘Supersong’ for fun. It’s just a compilation of rifts we put together for the talent show. In fact we wrote the song in one session and practiced it once before the first show in February.”

The two sophomore musicians have been playing together in Prentice’s garage for two and a half years. They set up once a week to jam and really did not think they would win the talent show.

“I was surprised we won,” O’Brien said. “We thought students wouldn’t like the song but we had a great time playing in front of all the different school student bodies.”

Prentice and O’Brien took on the larger bands with an upbeat and high-energy act that apparently was favored by judges from all eight-member schools. Despite only having drums and lead guitar, Prentice’s varied rifts and speed his fingers moved up and down the frets appealed to an often clapping and standing audience.

?Mike Prentice’s song was filled with angst and energy,? Paul McEntee, band director, said. ?I think he won because he went all out in his performance.?

Besides the standing ovation given to Prentice and O?Brien, other acts also received rousing approval and student leadership adviser, Josh Tosland agreed this year?s show was a hit.

“This was the best WSL Talent Show ever,” Tosland said. “All the acts were very good. It is very hard to pull together 16 acts that combine talent, performance and audience appreciation at the dame event. This was a positive event in each venue and culminated here. I am happy for the FC winners but the other acts more than added to a great show.”

Firebaugh’s Aly Britton won the individual talent portion with a tap dance rendition of “Too Darn Hot” made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and later the Broadway cast recording of Kiss Me Kate. Britton led off the afternoon show with a tap act that her choreographer from a local dance studio created. But despite going first, the junior created an impression the other individual performers could not match.

“I learned the dance routine a year ago as part of a group dance for our regional competitions throughout California,” Britton said after the show. “My dance instructor, Diane Banks, helped me put it together and I had a lot of fun doing the Broadway-style tap routine.”

Britton said her favorite part of the performance was the chair tip because it was challenging. While tap tapping on stage, she stepped onto a chair and deftly slid down the back as it leaned to the floor.

“I’m glad I didn’t fall off the stage,” Britton said with a smile. “The FC audience was very receptive–one of the best audiences yet. They cheered and then were quiet in all the right parts.”

Britton dances at a Fresno studio, For Dancers Only Dance Center, near campus at Cedar and Shepherd. For a photo of Britton’s performance, go to the Photos section of this online newspaper and click on “Tap tappin'”.

However, FC’s own Derek George seemed to be a sentimental favorite and brought the house down when he was announced as the second place winner for individual talent. George, who dedicated the song to his mom, Susan, played his acoustic guitar and sang “Daughters” from John Mayer’s, Heavier Things album.

“I dedicated the song to my mom because she was the one who got me started playing guitar and reminded me to practice everyday, paid for lessons, and encouraged me to sing too,” George said. “She’s always been the one encouraging me to learn new, different things. Also when I was little she told me that I would probably get all the babes if I learned guitar. So I picked it up.”

For more information on the talent show, contact Tosland at [email protected].