| A new option for local live music has been gaining some momentum lately – The Stetson has been hosting gigs with some of Calgary’s top bands. Surprisingly, a lot of these bands are participating in The Stetson’s "Battle Of the Bands." Though "B of the B’s" seem to have a stigma among working bands as being reserved for inexperienced musicians who may not be ready to get their own gigs, Stetson promoter Isaac Creasey’s experience being in bands such as Fallout Frequency and Downway has proven to be an asset.
"I know what bands like in a venue, and I give it to them," explains Creasey regarding the high level of participation of bands such as The Rocky Fortune and Kilbourne. "I have roots in this scene and (I) personally know a lot of the bands that are playing. It doesn't hurt that I'm giving away 2,000 bucks cash and four days in the studio as a grand prize."
Some first-round winners include Gunther and Billy And The Lost Boys, with more round-one battles to come – featuring bands like Cranston Foundation, Red City Anthem and Kiros.
Another attraction for the bands in Creasey’s view is that 75 per cent of the grading is based on judges’ marks, with only 25 per cent on crowd applause.
"It makes it so that you can't just bring down a whole bunch of fans, (still) be a crappy band and win."
Calgary punk kings Knucklehead just gained a new member – she’s bald, she screams, and she’s really short. Scarlet Jane Hegel was born May 15, 2006. Congratulations to daddy Kyle (Knucklehead vocalist) and mommy Kim.
Brittle Siren (featuring members of Red Not Evil and The Sandcastle Contest) are heading into Sundae Sound at the beginning of June to use up the free recording time they won for pledging more than any other local band during the last CJSW funding drive. They hope to have a CD mixed and mastered by the next year’s funding drive, so that they can do it all over again.
The Summerlad have issued an open call to Calgary keyboardists. Even though they already have the largest amp rigs in the city, they have decided to expand their sound to include a keyboardist and further the eternal hernia that is their live show. If you are interested, contact the band through the usual computer-y ways. |
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