The Alchemist, June 1, 2010, Volume 3, Number 126
Vol. 3, No. 126
BATTLE READY YOUR BANDS
…and bring a helmet.
Ready for a night full of free music? Ready to cheer? Ready to boo? Well, you’d best be ready for just about anything because there will be music of all kinds at the 10th annual Battle of the Bands at Oregon State University this Friday at 5 PM.
If you want to catch the start of the Battle, you may want to show up at 4 PM. That’s when Portland band Brightwood was originally slated to kick off the show, without competing, but they have since dropped off the playbill. In previous years there has been a DJ out to start off the music, but what will happen to this 4-5 o’clock slot is yet to be decided.
If you arrive and there’s no music yet, it’s no reason not to enjoy the Quad. Calapooia Brewing will be serving up food and beer in the fenced beer garden on the far side of the quad, opposite the Memorial Union and the two stages that bands will alternate on. There may be a few other booths to check out, and some of the bands will be selling merchandise too. Don’t forget a disc or a ball to toss around if you’d like – nobody says you have to push up against the stage to enjoy the free music.
Or perhaps you’ll pick out a spot to park for a day or two. The day after the Battle is the Flat Tail Music Festival, and the winner of the Battle of the Bands on Friday will kick off the music Saturday, too. The winning band also gets $500 and will host next year’s Battle. Second place comes in at a $300 prize, third place is $100.
THE BANDS:
5:00 PM – EvLove
EvLove is a last minute addition to the line-up, following the cancellation of original openers Otto. The group is a four-piece local band that bills themselves as minimalist rock. Unfortunately there was not time enough before printing to find out more.
5:30 PM – Of Saints and Shadows
Of Saints and Shadows is a 5 piece metal band with a penchant for breakdowns and guitar solos. The band has been together for three years now and has played everything from high school parking lots to the Hawthorne Theater in Portland. If you made it to the Battle last year, you’ll remember these guys as the second place winner. They may sound a bit different with a new lead singer, but they expect to be playing to perfection as they’ve spent the last several months recording a new EP – available free at the show.
The band has more info at their FaceBook and MySpace pages, and had this to say:
“We like to have a good time on stage; we’re not strangers to the ridiculous outfit to spice up the show. Of Saints and Shadows is more than just a feast for the ears.”
6:00 PM – Hallways of Always
Hallways of Always is a somewhat thrown-together funk/rock jam band comprised of three local musicians with much Battle experience. Guitarist and vocalist Matt Jager has played at the Battle of the Bands three times already, including his honorary membership in last year’s winning band, Pseudoboss. Bassist Nate Nerenberg has done the Battle twice, and drummer Matt Haide has been in once. The threesome didn’t quite expect to play the Battle, so there’s not much info, merchandise or music out there to be found, just know that they have a few songs set to go but they really hit their stride with improvisation.
The best part of being in the band according to Haide:
“Either the Alpacas, the geese or the random spur-of-the-moment jams.”
6:30 PM – Stateside
Stateside is a four piece band that plays alternative rock styled after the likes of Coldplay and Death Cab for Cutie. You may have heard the band play at last year’s Battle of the Bands, but if you want to get a better idea you can get a hold of the MUPC’s sampler CD with the band’s best song, “Come Find Me.” The band has no website or music online to hear, but they’ve been practicing a lot and working on new material so really you’ll just have to check them out.
“None of us have the same musical taste; it makes it interesting to see what comes out when we write,” said guitarist Doug Weiss.
7:00 PM – The Angries
This is the first time at the Battle of the Bands for The Angries. The band is a loud and fast punk band with an energy that will definitely get you moving and a passion for their music that shows. This local four piece group has been around for three years now, has a full-length CD and an EP out – both are available at Happy Trails and Interzone, and will be available at the Battle. You may want to check out the CD’s or the bands MySpace of Facebook page to sample their music, with a goal of 15 songs in 30 minutes even favorites like “Hitler Youth (In Power Suits” will fly by.
“We try to keep our performances high-energy and to-the-point; none of that stage bantering, guitar noodling bullshit,” said singer Caitlin Garets.
7:30 PM – The Likeness
The Likeness is a brand new band – the Battle will be only their second show. Many of the five members have played at the Battle before, and while the line-up of The Likeness is set, who plays what instrument changes depending on what song they are playing. “All That I Am,” is the one song you can listen to on their FaceBook and MySpace pages, though “Mighty Wind” is a personal favorite of the bands and definitely a song to listen for. The band bills there music as indie rock/americana and styles after Coldplay, and Jesus Culture, among others.
They also have a larger message: “We want people to know that they can be truly free and truly loved and the way is Jesus.”
8:00 PM – Target for Tomorrow and The Horns of Destruction
This will be the second Battle performance for rock band Target for Tomorrow, the third if you count a previous version of the band known as Pilot Light. This year there will be eight musicians in the band, with instruments ranging from bass and guitars to clarinets and flugelhorns. You can check them out on FaceBook and MySpace, and you’ll want to because such diversity leads to equally diverse music. This band even took three months off of performing to write up all-new music for this set – timed at 29 and a half minutes so far, so they may pull it all off in a 30 minute set. It all comes down to the best and last two songs the band calls “the 12-minute-monster.”
“Basically it boils down to playing music that smashes styles and influences together in ways that no one has heard before,” said drummer Charley McGowan.
8:30 PM – Future Sunz
According to vocalist Ben Metzger, this duo began with “underground lyrical hip-hop” in 1998. They even played the OSU Battle of the Bands back in 2002. After a long hiatus Metzger and Chris Kennedy reformed Future Sunz, adding “futuristic electronic party” elements for a sound now billed as Electronic Hip Hop. The music of Future Sunz is very much focused on the state of the world today, from oil to war to politics and society. There’s some samples to be found online, but the new album “Tomorrow” won’t be out until this fall – the band will be distributing 5-song sampler CD’s at the Battle, though.
“Future Sunz demands that the listener break the chains that keep us slaves to a growing threat of Orwellian class slavery and thought control,” said Metzger.
9:00 PM – Motæ
Motæ is a four-piece progressive rock band with tinges of Latin, Jazz, and world music. As a band, the members are always trying to incorporate new aspects to their music and, having played at least one show a week for the last several months, they’ve had chances to work in plenty. Rather than getting worked up over the Battle, Motæ is coming in calm and cool as they would for any other show, ready to perform their best and inspire others with music. You can hear that music on any of the bands several online outlets, including Reverb Nation, or grab a copy of the new EP at the Battle.
“It’s our opinion that music is what it is today because musicians throughout history have trusted their instincts and pursued a sound that wasn’t popular at the time.”
9:30 PM – Lost Tortoise
This will be the first Battle performance for Lost Tortoise, the last band in competition. A local 5 piece band, they’ll be rocking the stage with an eclectic mix of rock, funk, blues and progressive stylings that they’ve been working on for 3 and a half years running. Don’t be surprised if they switch styles mid-song, the band is good at it. This is one group you’ve definitely heard of before – they play around Corvallis all the time, but if you need a refresher you can check them out on the usual websites, or find some video on YouTube.
“Hard core rocking, technical prowess, a variety of musical stylings – there’s something for everyone,” said guitarist Rawley Greene.
10:00 PM – pseudoboss – Host and winner of the 2009 Battle of the Bands
Singer/rhythm guitarist Noah Stroup and drummer Chris Harver take the stage for what will be their 4th Battle of the Bands performance together. Lead guitarist Connor O’Shea rounds out the threesome described by fans as the product of a threesome between Queens of the Stone Age, Rage Against the Machine, and Led Zeppelin. You can check them out on MySpace or at www.pseudoboss.com. “I’ve Been There,” is Stroup’s favorite song pseudoboss has so far, and it’s just one of several you’ll hear as the band rocks the stage while the final votes are tallied for this year’s winning band.
Some advice from one winning band to the next:
“Tune. Practice. And once you’re on stage to perform it’s too late to get nervous, so just play your guts out.”
~Robin Canfield
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