Revenge was served Friday night at Band Wars as Penny Fortune rocked the crowd and won.
In their second appearance at the event, organized and hosted by the Lethbridge College Student’s Association, Penny Fortune took the first-place prize of $800.
They placed second in the first Band Wars back on Jan. 21 while Smokestack Jack placed first.
Myles Olsen, guitarist and singer for the two-man band, said moments after the win that it’s an unexpected show of love from Lethbridge.
“It means a lot. We were heartbroken after the last show but this means a lot. We are supported with so much love. It’s all about the love.”
On the same note, keyboardist and singer Jeremy Braynen added that Lethbridge has been nothing but good to them.
“What means the most is having Lethbridge’s support. We’re not even from here.”
Both Olsen and Braynen are from Calgary and are in Lethbridge studying to become Phys Ed teachers. They started Penny Fortune two years ago, right around the same time as Band Wars.
Olsen said it was a spontaneous beginning for the reigning Band Wars winners, crediting the Surf Club in Lethbridge for giving them a start.
“We just threw out bits and pieces. We never thought we’d be doing shows. We were just having fun. The Surf Club gave us our first show and that’s been it. We’ve done about eight shows in the last two years. We graduate in April.”
Olsen and Braynen look forward to investing their prize money back into Penny Fortune.
“We’ll probably record a real song. We have a CD we recorded on our own. It’s got 13 songs and costs $5,” Olsen exclaimed as a string of people continually came over to congratulate him and Braynen.
With a second successful Band Wars down, Olsen said the winners aren’t certain they’ll be back in the fall to try to repeat their win.
“It’s the end of the (school) year. We don’t know where we’ll end up. We’re taking it one show at a time. We hope we can do a year end show at the college or university. We’re just staying positive. We do aim high.”
The Eyes of Isis placed second, receiving $200. Heavy metal band Caste of Shadows and rockers the Living Luca tied for a prize-less third place, both bands also returning performers to Band Wars.
Fans can get Penny Fortune’s CD by contacting them through their Facebook page.
Photos from all the Band Wars performances can be found on the Endeavour Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=386089&id=174217563573