Battle of the Bands, according to Wikipedia, is a generic term for a contest in which many bands, usually rock/guitar bands but often from a range of different styles, compete for the title of "best band."
The winner is determined by a panel of judges, the general response of the audience, or a combination. The winning band usually receives a prize and bragging rights. Prizes may include cash, free recording time in a local recording studio, a piece of new equipment, or a gift certificate.
The wildly successful local incarnation of Battle of the Bands from local promoter Got Pop? Productions winds up with the final show 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cambie.
Promoter Andrew Roberts saw the demand and potential in the Island's rich music scene: "I'd seen it done in the past so why not try it here. There are a lot of bands here in Nanaimo."
"Stretching it out over time for 11 weeks, three bands a night was reasonable, it gives each band time for a full set," giving bands (and fans) a break from the typical 15-bands-in-one-night setup he says.
The Cambie was happy to book 11 consecutive Saturday nights to pull the whole thing off, and it's paid off. "The Cambie has definitely been great helping out with the shows."
"The crowd has been supportive, too," Roberts says, "It's been really well received. It's packed the last few times usually close to 100 or 150 people which is capacity at the Cambie."
A reasonable $5 ticket price doesn't hurt either. Even with a slight bump to $8 for Saturday night, "the finals are going to be packed," Roberts says.
It wasn't hard to recruit performers: "It was a Myspace thing, I sent out a message to Island bands to ask them to get information to me if they wanted to sign up."
Forty applicants were whittled down to 21 from a variety of genres, punk to ska, to acoustic to rock.
Ten weeks later it is down to just four finalists:
- Johnny Good, straight-up power pop/rock.
- Old Phoebe plays a lo-fi folk pop as indie as indie can be. Their show includes guitars and pianos and bicycles and typewriters and Polaroid cameras and jingle bells.
- Unlabeled, a four-piece fast and melodic punk band. It's known for its high-energy live shows and rowdy partying.
- Wilson Pascoe is the dialed-down solo contender here. Heavy into the studio production thing which lends his new material a more complex full sound, it's big, heavy, and loud, epic electric rock but rearranged and pared back down again for solo performance.
Joe Cooper, aka Extreme Joe, takes on MC duties for the night. Judges include yours truly plus a couple of others to be announced.
However, the votes are really in the hands of the crowd: "The fans get a voting card and hand in their votes to the bartender through the night," Roberts says. And at the end of it all the winner will be announced.
The first prize winner walks away with $1,000 in cash plus studio time with Muse Productions to record a one-song demo. They also score the opening slot for Lillix playing a Nov. 5 all-ages gig at the Coast Bastion. And bragging rights, of course.
All of the finalists have a spot on the next Got Pop? CD sampler as well opening slots on upcoming Got Pop? shows.
And before it's even over, Roberts is looking ahead to 2007.
"This is gonna be a yearly thing, we're doing really well. As long as people support the bands and there's bands here, I'll be doing it." Watch for the next BOTB to kick off at the end of Summer 2007. Traditionally a slower time in the industry, that timing is probably responsible for a lot fo the event's success. Find out more at www.myspace.com/gotpopbotb.