Logicbank Media

Those walking past the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School on Monday, July 6 might have assumed it was an empty, tranquil, unoccupied space for the summer — when, in fact, the second annual Toronto Rock Camp was firing up inside the classrooms. Bands were assembled on the first day — determined by instrument choices, playing ability, and campers who wanted to play together — and they quickly got to work on picking, and perfecting, a couple of tunes for the Friday afternoon CityArts showcase.

A concurrent electric guitar workshop during the first week, run by We Will Rock You bandleader Tristan Avakian, schooled a group on fretboard fundamentals — and conversations about the history of the instrument. Their collective talents were displayed at the concert with a medley of “All Along the Watchtower” and “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix, playing tribute to a rock legend who might still be ahead of his time.

BEWARE OF KITTEN

BEWARE OF KITTEN (L to R: Olivia, Ben, Jordan, Joanna, Ridley) lived up to their name by unleashing the complexities of 1990s angst-rock on the crowd of family and friends: “Zero” by Smashing Pumpkins, and the Guns N’ Roses hit “Don’t Cry.”

INSOMNIA

INSOMNIA (Nicole, Aidan, Chris, Erik, Sarah) took on the nuances of the 1980s via “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits and Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” — classic rock songs with multiple parts that could keep any player, or listener, from falling asleep.

THE PRIESTS

THE PRIESTS (James, Sam, Susan, Jaden, Myles) might have been inspired by the Catholic school environment for their handle, interpreting the intricacies of “Time to Dance” by Panic! at the Disco, and The Police’s straightforward singalong “Message in a Bottle.”

THE PUSHES

THE PUSHES (Michael, Max, George, Alexander, Eason) brought their garage band-style intensity to the stage with a different spin on the 1990s: contemplating “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and bashing out Green Day’s “Brain Stew.”

STEALTH (Julian, Oliver, Arahant, Carmen, Quinn) brought their rebellious attitude to the proceedings, as the one first-week group to thrash out an original, “Johnny” — about vocalist Carmen’s ex-boyfriend — and “Seek and Destroy” by Metallica.

STEALTH

Five days of collaboration and conversation culminated in five decades of music history on the school auditorium stage for a music recital like no other — under the direction of spirited bandleaders and expert clinicians. Week one of the 2009 Toronto Rock Camp provided everyone with a feeling of possibility for this summer.

More images of week #1 here.