When bands battle, it’s all about the energy and connection with the audience — or at least that was one factor that helped land punk group Medusa in first place Tuesday. It was just one segment of an extensive Battle of the Bands put on by Spirit of ’68 Promotions and hosted by the Bluebird Nightclub.
While each group aimed to get people dancing, Medusa took the battle from the synchronized rock ‘n’ roll rhythms of The 8’s to synchronized dances with high kicks and head-bangs.
“It’s been like a battle of the genres,” said Brendan Wood, guitarist of competing group Bent On Control.
The five groups that performed in Tuesday’s part of a battle scheduled to last through August represented a diverse range of genres and eras from Bent On Control’s European operatic metal to the Constants’ vintage blues rock appeal.
“So far what I’ve seen is a very eclectic mix — I think it’s a good representation of some of the newer bands in Bloomington,” said Craig Shank, a juror and programming assistant for WTTS. “It’s interesting to judge different styles and different levels of talent and preparation and see who comes out on top.”
Judges for Tuesday night’s event included Shank; Danielle McClelland, executive director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater; and Eric Harvey, writer for Pitchfork.com. A large group of judges selected from the Bloomington community will rotate throughout the event.
“My whole mentality behind trying to do this was trying to go for a bigger prize and a better prize,” said Dan Coleman, headman for Spirit of ’68 Promotions and organizer of the event. “I tried to get people that were not in a band and actually had some knowledge and interest in music.”
The pot of gold at the end of the battlefield is a $2,000 cash prize, T-shirts, a custom tour poster and a photo shoot, among other prizes.
“The first band is getting pretty hooked up, and the second and third band, as I like to say, are getting a Coke and a smile,” Coleman said. But no band loses; each group gets a chance to perform at the Bluebird and gain exposure regardless of its final placing.
While the majority of bands agreed they would split the money between the members to pay for struggling rock-star expenses such as rent and band beer, the members of Medusa agreed they would use the money to buy band merchandise or fund a tour.
“We are pretty good about keeping the money in the band and not dividing it amongst ourselves,” guitarist James Bauman said.
But it is going to be a long and loud battle, so put on your Chuck Taylors, flip down those sunglasses, stomp on that distortion pedal and go. The first round of the battle will take place every Tuesday through June, the second round in July, semi-finals during the first half of August and the final shred-down Aug. 27.
With the competition extending for the full duration of the long, humid Bloomington summer, the event is truly exclusive to local summer residents. This rang true Tuesday with the competition’s runner-up, the Pigeon Hill Boys, named after a local slang term for the mini-mountain topped by Tri-North Middle School and skirted by government housing. This rockabilly band added a little twang to the lineup, featuring the seldom-seen lap slide guitar and displaying early country influences with threads of punk-rock rhythms and vocals.
“I really like classic country, and I like rock ‘n’ roll,” Pigeon Hill Boys lead singer Ryan Briles said.
The 8’s performed their own conglomeration of early influences.
“The writing style I started off with was rock ‘n’ roll and blues progressions and doo-wop progressions, things like that with a dancing beat,” said Sam Dearinger, lead singer and guitarist of The 8’s. Describing one song from the group’s Tuesday set list, Dearinger said, “I basically took a bunch of Chuck Berry riffs and put it to a (Rolling) Stones feel.”
While not onstage, members of The 8’s were indistinguishable from those of The Constants, but in some battles even your high school buddies are your competitors.
“We are very good friends with the band, friendly rivals — we rehearse in the same room most of the time,” Contestants drummer Johan Ramire said.
These buddies shared beers and cheers and offered each other support throughout the evening. All three members of The 8’s cheered for The Constants’ encore, and the lead singer of The Constants kindly fetched Dearinger’s backup guitar after a nearly fatal string-snapping incident. These bands didn’t just share high fives; they shared a passion for the blues.
“I call this the broken-string blues,” Dearinger said while switching instruments on stage.
As the hours switched from p.m. to a.m. and the mobile taco stand parked outside attracted bar-goers like flies, Coleman totaled the ballot box and conferred with the judges to announce Tuesday’s winners. Crowned victorious, the members of Medusa stood together at the bar taking complimentary victory shots.
Five more bands will take the stage Tuesday, but Medusa is hoping fans will return to hear them play during the next round of the competition in July.
“We pulled out all the banging hits for this set,” Bauman said. “We pulled out all the fast rockers, the things that are going to leave people wanting more.”
While each group aimed to get people dancing, Medusa took the battle from the synchronized rock ‘n’ roll rhythms of The 8’s to synchronized dances with high kicks and head-bangs.
“It’s been like a battle of the genres,” said Brendan Wood, guitarist of competing group Bent On Control.
The five groups that performed in Tuesday’s part of a battle scheduled to last through August represented a diverse range of genres and eras from Bent On Control’s European operatic metal to the Constants’ vintage blues rock appeal.
“So far what I’ve seen is a very eclectic mix — I think it’s a good representation of some of the newer bands in Bloomington,” said Craig Shank, a juror and programming assistant for WTTS. “It’s interesting to judge different styles and different levels of talent and preparation and see who comes out on top.”
Judges for Tuesday night’s event included Shank; Danielle McClelland, executive director of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater; and Eric Harvey, writer for Pitchfork.com. A large group of judges selected from the Bloomington community will rotate throughout the event.
“My whole mentality behind trying to do this was trying to go for a bigger prize and a better prize,” said Dan Coleman, headman for Spirit of ’68 Promotions and organizer of the event. “I tried to get people that were not in a band and actually had some knowledge and interest in music.”
The pot of gold at the end of the battlefield is a $2,000 cash prize, T-shirts, a custom tour poster and a photo shoot, among other prizes.
“The first band is getting pretty hooked up, and the second and third band, as I like to say, are getting a Coke and a smile,” Coleman said. But no band loses; each group gets a chance to perform at the Bluebird and gain exposure regardless of its final placing.
While the majority of bands agreed they would split the money between the members to pay for struggling rock-star expenses such as rent and band beer, the members of Medusa agreed they would use the money to buy band merchandise or fund a tour.
“We are pretty good about keeping the money in the band and not dividing it amongst ourselves,” guitarist James Bauman said.
But it is going to be a long and loud battle, so put on your Chuck Taylors, flip down those sunglasses, stomp on that distortion pedal and go. The first round of the battle will take place every Tuesday through June, the second round in July, semi-finals during the first half of August and the final shred-down Aug. 27.
With the competition extending for the full duration of the long, humid Bloomington summer, the event is truly exclusive to local summer residents. This rang true Tuesday with the competition’s runner-up, the Pigeon Hill Boys, named after a local slang term for the mini-mountain topped by Tri-North Middle School and skirted by government housing. This rockabilly band added a little twang to the lineup, featuring the seldom-seen lap slide guitar and displaying early country influences with threads of punk-rock rhythms and vocals.
“I really like classic country, and I like rock ‘n’ roll,” Pigeon Hill Boys lead singer Ryan Briles said.
The 8’s performed their own conglomeration of early influences.
“The writing style I started off with was rock ‘n’ roll and blues progressions and doo-wop progressions, things like that with a dancing beat,” said Sam Dearinger, lead singer and guitarist of The 8’s. Describing one song from the group’s Tuesday set list, Dearinger said, “I basically took a bunch of Chuck Berry riffs and put it to a (Rolling) Stones feel.”
While not onstage, members of The 8’s were indistinguishable from those of The Constants, but in some battles even your high school buddies are your competitors.
“We are very good friends with the band, friendly rivals — we rehearse in the same room most of the time,” Contestants drummer Johan Ramire said.
These buddies shared beers and cheers and offered each other support throughout the evening. All three members of The 8’s cheered for The Constants’ encore, and the lead singer of The Constants kindly fetched Dearinger’s backup guitar after a nearly fatal string-snapping incident. These bands didn’t just share high fives; they shared a passion for the blues.
“I call this the broken-string blues,” Dearinger said while switching instruments on stage.
As the hours switched from p.m. to a.m. and the mobile taco stand parked outside attracted bar-goers like flies, Coleman totaled the ballot box and conferred with the judges to announce Tuesday’s winners. Crowned victorious, the members of Medusa stood together at the bar taking complimentary victory shots.
Five more bands will take the stage Tuesday, but Medusa is hoping fans will return to hear them play during the next round of the competition in July.
“We pulled out all the banging hits for this set,” Bauman said. “We pulled out all the fast rockers, the things that are going to leave people wanting more.”
