The poster says it all but for more information, go to www.velvetropemagazine.com. I know for a fact that I'll be there. 24 of the greatest local bands will be there. All sorts of other awesome people will be there. Will you be there?
Friday, March 16, 2012
Velvet Rope 24 Hour Concert
Hey boys and girls. I've got a public serice announcement for everybody! On March 31st at 8pm at The Embassy in Waterloo, Ontario (56 King St. N.), Velvet Rope Magazine presents a 24 Hour Concert!
The poster says it all but for more information, go to www.velvetropemagazine.com. I know for a fact that I'll be there. 24 of the greatest local bands will be there. All sorts of other awesome people will be there. Will you be there?
The poster says it all but for more information, go to www.velvetropemagazine.com. I know for a fact that I'll be there. 24 of the greatest local bands will be there. All sorts of other awesome people will be there. Will you be there?
Monday, March 12, 2012
Massive ARC Battle Update! (SupportLocal)
Hey everyone and welcome back to the Palace of Edutainment. I am your host, as always, Victor Bast. So while I was away for over a month (a blog about my absence will come along in the near future), the ARC Battle continued. As usual, I will provide the up do date scores for everyone.
Group A Round 3 looked to be a moderate show based on the scores. When the highest score is 87.33, I really can't say that it was anywhere near the quality of the other shows. That being said, it was another three horse race between Warlord Messiah, When an Ambulance Needs an Ambulance (Victor Note- That name is far too long for a band. Clever but too long) and This is Identity. Congrats to both Warlord Messiah and When an Ambulance Needs an Ambulance for advancing to the finals!
Group B Round 1 looked like a solid card with two clear winners. Sound Glyphics and Remembering Apollo seemed to break away from the pack and clinch the finals very easily. Certified Valor apparently showed no valor whatsoever and scored a 0, which usually means that they failed to meet the requirements to even attempt to qualify in the finals.
Group B Round 2 was the same as the previous round. Two clear winners, a failed qualifier and a band trying it's best. The only difference is that the two qualifying bands, Auras and D'Archangel scored the highest scores in the entire battle with 97 and 96 respectively. Sepia Tone Fridays should've just called themselves No Show Fridays as they failed to even qualify.
Group B Round 3 looked to be the weakest round of the entire battle with the winner scoring 85.66, which couldn't get 3rd in some groups. That being said, a big congrats to Badly Sketched Poets and Spear the Void for advancing.
It's a shame that I missed the past four shows due to personal reasons however it looks like it was a great showing by all the bands that qualified and participated (Victor Rant- To the bands that participated but did not make the criteria to qualify or just didn't bother showing up... Personally, I'm going to tell you to just pawn your instruments and move on with your lives. If you can't meet the criteria to compete in this battle, which is very easy stipulations to qualify in, please don't waste the time of the promoters. They could've gave the spot to a band that would strive to compete instead of your lazy asses. It's not personal, it's life.) and best of luck to the bands that qualified. There is still going to be a fan qualifying spot so once I get the information about that, I will send it down to the masses. Also, a big shout out to ARC Cloathing, The Crossman Brothers and the judges for their work in this battle. You guys have done a bang up job, keep it up!
The Semi-Finals start on Friday April 13th at 7pm at the Schwaben Club so make sure to be there. I know I'll be there.
Victor Bast
Group A Round 3 looked to be a moderate show based on the scores. When the highest score is 87.33, I really can't say that it was anywhere near the quality of the other shows. That being said, it was another three horse race between Warlord Messiah, When an Ambulance Needs an Ambulance (Victor Note- That name is far too long for a band. Clever but too long) and This is Identity. Congrats to both Warlord Messiah and When an Ambulance Needs an Ambulance for advancing to the finals!
Group B Round 1 looked like a solid card with two clear winners. Sound Glyphics and Remembering Apollo seemed to break away from the pack and clinch the finals very easily. Certified Valor apparently showed no valor whatsoever and scored a 0, which usually means that they failed to meet the requirements to even attempt to qualify in the finals.
Group B Round 2 was the same as the previous round. Two clear winners, a failed qualifier and a band trying it's best. The only difference is that the two qualifying bands, Auras and D'Archangel scored the highest scores in the entire battle with 97 and 96 respectively. Sepia Tone Fridays should've just called themselves No Show Fridays as they failed to even qualify.
Group B Round 3 looked to be the weakest round of the entire battle with the winner scoring 85.66, which couldn't get 3rd in some groups. That being said, a big congrats to Badly Sketched Poets and Spear the Void for advancing.
It's a shame that I missed the past four shows due to personal reasons however it looks like it was a great showing by all the bands that qualified and participated (Victor Rant- To the bands that participated but did not make the criteria to qualify or just didn't bother showing up... Personally, I'm going to tell you to just pawn your instruments and move on with your lives. If you can't meet the criteria to compete in this battle, which is very easy stipulations to qualify in, please don't waste the time of the promoters. They could've gave the spot to a band that would strive to compete instead of your lazy asses. It's not personal, it's life.) and best of luck to the bands that qualified. There is still going to be a fan qualifying spot so once I get the information about that, I will send it down to the masses. Also, a big shout out to ARC Cloathing, The Crossman Brothers and the judges for their work in this battle. You guys have done a bang up job, keep it up!
The Semi-Finals start on Friday April 13th at 7pm at the Schwaben Club so make sure to be there. I know I'll be there.
Victor Bast
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Interview with 2ylite tha Titan (Supportlocal)
I really wanted to get someone unique for my first ever interview. I wanted to find someone who wasn't only talented with their own unique brand but someone whose views differed from the mainstream and would make this first interview not only a good read on a local artist but also a memorable interview that can be a good read and get people thinking. Then it hit me. I know the perfect person for my first interview. 2ylite tha Titan.
I've known 2ylite tha Titan back in high school when he was known by his birth name, Yasser Akkila. I knew from talking to him then that this man was a free thinker. He had his own beliefs and wouldn't change them even if you put a gun to his head. (Victor note- please don't put a gun to his head, that's not cool.) It wasn't until a few years later when we both worked night crew at a local grocery store that I found out about his hip hop life of 2ylite tha Titan. I purchased his CD, named Titanopolis and was very impressed with not only the smooth delivery of his music but also the messages in each song. The songs aren't like the mainstream that talk about product placement, making it rain in V.I.P. rooms, beating an ex-wife or some gang war. These lyrics were more faith based, almost as a way to get people to think outside of the mainstream box. He has performed at local venues, most notably Starlight nightclub in Waterloo. It is only fitting that as a man that is trying to get people to see things from a local perspective to interview a local artist who also wants to expand the knowledge of the masses. Ladies and Gentlemen, without further adieu, here is my interview with 2ylite tha Titan.
V- So Titan, what inspired you to get into the hip hop world?
T- I actually kind of fell into it, I had started writing poetry in my second year of high school and one day I found out a friend in my class was a rapper and he encouraged me to come to his basement and try it. The excitement was intense to say the least! After doing that song it got a real positive reaction from people so thats sort of what fueled me to keep going along with a feeling to want to express myself musically. I just love hip hop man.
V- That sounds pretty exciting. Do you remember what your first rhyme was about?
T- (laughing) Thats an excellent question and I think I do. It was formulated on one of my first poems actually, something about being in the darkness and stuff. I've since then gotten that electricity.
V- By darkness, what exactly do you mean?
T- Oh like metaphorically I guess man. I honestly don't remember the song that much. I think the song was about being an outcast and being alone, which I guess we all feel sometimes and it can be a dark place.
V- That is true, we can all experience what it's like to be alone and an outcast, especially in the society we live in today. I know you're a very insightful and spiritual guy so a quick question about the darkness. Do you feel that the feeling of being an outcast and alone is just a condition of humanity or is it driven through by the medias influence on society?
T- I think its due to many factors, primary a feeling that you can't relate to most people. It's not so much being alone but when you feel like you're alone in your thoughts and feelings about the world. When you feel you can't relate to others and vice versa. The media and environment we are brought up in plays a huge part in this based on how you are raised on you're gonna act differently than someone who is born to someone who was raised by tribal islanders for example. That plays a part in feelings of loneliness, when a person is taken out of thier environment and upbringing is faced to try to relate to a different school of thought than they are used to.
V- Very good point. It's hard for anyone who is being moved from one culture to another. So going back on topic, do you remember where you first performed in front of a live audience and how did you feel while doing it?
T- Oh wow man that was in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and I forgot the name of the place. It felt alright. I had just wanted to see more people there I guess. When you're first starting out, you might expect huge things when you just have to build from the ground up first. I believe you should always set your sights high. I think my love for performing just grew as I did it more and now I love it a lot. I actually can't wait 'til my next show!
V- Agreed, the only way to succeed in this world is to set your sights high and grab your dreams! Where is your next show so these nice readers can go check it out?
T- (laughing) that is yet to be announced. More than likely it will be at Fanshawe College at the Outback Shack Pub and Grill sometime in February. I can definitley let you know again so you can announce it.
V- Please do man, we have to get the masses out for that! Speaking of your music, your songs really have a reflection of your faith in them. How does your faith inspire you to make your music?
T- I think to a large degree that's what my album Titanopolis and my previous projects reflected on at that time I was just reflecting what I was raised on which is Islam. I still hold true to a lot of my Islamic beliefs but I feel that the natural progression of a person is to absorb and learn as much as they can of the world around them, which is actually encouraged in islamic teachings. In order for a person to truly learn they must be or try to be open and a lot of schools of thought or knowledge tries to tell you "No this is the only way and if you deviate from it you will burn." However, being that we are intelligent beings, this choice should be made up on our own. Not due to what someone else has told us. I had always reflected what I felt in my previous projects was beneficial from my faith and I still hold true to those teachings. Teachings like equality and unity amongst people. I feel they are important to share with people, beyond it just being a religious duty. I feel everything you do has to come from your heart and you gotta believe it.
V- You brought up some great points there and honestly, most religions basic principles are what you are speaking of: Respect for other beings, exchange of knowledge, being true to your faith but most importantly, everything you do should come from your heart. These are pretty basic principles that most people learn while they are very young but seem to forget about it the older they get. Do you believe that and if so, why do you think that is?
T- That is an excellent question man. The reason for this is becuase the environment we are brought up in is in direct conflict with that type of mindstate of equality and union amongst all human beings. That is primarly money. The money system turns people against each other and makes people competitive when they don't need to be. This is also how the ones in control or on top stay there. The poor and middle class keep sqwabbling for crumbs and whatever is kicked down to them while the people ontop of the pyramid keep looking out for thier own. We are all one family, but now we only see ourselves, rather than the big picture.
V- As they say, money is the root of all evil
T- Certainly man, and really it isn't anyone's real fault. It's just the environment we were born into. I believe with enough knowledge and education we can have a much better world for all people.
V- For sure man. Getting back to your album Titanopolis, there is a song with the same name (Titanopolis). What is it about?
T- That song is basically talking about the theme of the album which is that it is a city that reflects my personality with every street and district being a different part of who I am as a person. The chorus speaks of this as well, when I go "My vision and my story unfolds, in the streets of my world."
V- That is easily one of, if not, the most innovative ideas for a song in any genre. In fact, your music differs from virtually everyone when it comes to your beliefs in Islam to Titanopolis to your inspirational rhymes. My favourite thing that you have done so far is the eleven minute and eleven second marathon rhyme you posted on YouTube called 11:11. What inspired you to make an eleven plus minute track?
T- (laughing) Man that is so flattering bro, very kind words man. I appreciate it bro. Maybe a few things had inspired me for that track. I had seen that many artists that I like made a track or two at one point that was just a massive verse so that was part of it for sure. More than anything I felt I needed a new challenge. Something new to try, which I thrive on. I love tackling something that people might percieve as difficult or near impossible to prove that it isn't and to use that to inspire and come out a fuller person afterwards.
V- Very inspirational. How long did it take from coming up with the first rhyme to posting it on the internet?
T- It was a process, It took several months, around 4-6 months to finish writing it. Partly because I wouldn't settle for anything less than my concept of perfection for it. Also, I guess I deal with a lot of things in my life. I don't know if it is more or less than the average person but I deal with them nonetheless. The beautiful thing about that song is that through all of it, it was still done. It makes me really proud everytime I hear it, to me it just reflects me to a very high degree. It also proves that positive energy cannot be halted!
V- Nobody can stop positive energy. Speaking of ironic, it is funny how all that positive energy is based on a song that is called 11:11 and it is eleven minutes long and eleven seconds (laughing)
T- (laughing) Yeah man it's all meant to be. That's what I guess the whole energy and vibe of that song is. It's a message within a message infinitely.
V- For sure! Unfortunately we have to wrap this up, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to?
T- Whats up everybody and all the true hip hop heads! Much Love, Peace and Unity to all mankind. Love and care about each other! we are all ONE! Thank you to anyone who supports me and loves real music and thank you Victor for this opportunity! My new album drops this year! Stay tuned.
Feel free to like 2ylite tha Titan on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/2yLite-Tha-Titan/9589966249Also, check out 2ylite tha Titans Youtube Channel- http://www.youtube.com/user/2yLiteThaTitan/videos
You can check out 2ylite tha Titan on Myspace at- www.myspace.com/2ylitethatitan
Live from New York, it's 2ylite tha Titan... well not
really but that is him in New York, I do know that much
I've known 2ylite tha Titan back in high school when he was known by his birth name, Yasser Akkila. I knew from talking to him then that this man was a free thinker. He had his own beliefs and wouldn't change them even if you put a gun to his head. (Victor note- please don't put a gun to his head, that's not cool.) It wasn't until a few years later when we both worked night crew at a local grocery store that I found out about his hip hop life of 2ylite tha Titan. I purchased his CD, named Titanopolis and was very impressed with not only the smooth delivery of his music but also the messages in each song. The songs aren't like the mainstream that talk about product placement, making it rain in V.I.P. rooms, beating an ex-wife or some gang war. These lyrics were more faith based, almost as a way to get people to think outside of the mainstream box. He has performed at local venues, most notably Starlight nightclub in Waterloo. It is only fitting that as a man that is trying to get people to see things from a local perspective to interview a local artist who also wants to expand the knowledge of the masses. Ladies and Gentlemen, without further adieu, here is my interview with 2ylite tha Titan.
V- So Titan, what inspired you to get into the hip hop world?
T- I actually kind of fell into it, I had started writing poetry in my second year of high school and one day I found out a friend in my class was a rapper and he encouraged me to come to his basement and try it. The excitement was intense to say the least! After doing that song it got a real positive reaction from people so thats sort of what fueled me to keep going along with a feeling to want to express myself musically. I just love hip hop man.
V- That sounds pretty exciting. Do you remember what your first rhyme was about?
T- (laughing) Thats an excellent question and I think I do. It was formulated on one of my first poems actually, something about being in the darkness and stuff. I've since then gotten that electricity.
V- By darkness, what exactly do you mean?
T- Oh like metaphorically I guess man. I honestly don't remember the song that much. I think the song was about being an outcast and being alone, which I guess we all feel sometimes and it can be a dark place.
V- That is true, we can all experience what it's like to be alone and an outcast, especially in the society we live in today. I know you're a very insightful and spiritual guy so a quick question about the darkness. Do you feel that the feeling of being an outcast and alone is just a condition of humanity or is it driven through by the medias influence on society?
T- I think its due to many factors, primary a feeling that you can't relate to most people. It's not so much being alone but when you feel like you're alone in your thoughts and feelings about the world. When you feel you can't relate to others and vice versa. The media and environment we are brought up in plays a huge part in this based on how you are raised on you're gonna act differently than someone who is born to someone who was raised by tribal islanders for example. That plays a part in feelings of loneliness, when a person is taken out of thier environment and upbringing is faced to try to relate to a different school of thought than they are used to.
2ylite tha Titan tearing down the house, as the kids
used to say.
V- Very good point. It's hard for anyone who is being moved from one culture to another. So going back on topic, do you remember where you first performed in front of a live audience and how did you feel while doing it?
T- Oh wow man that was in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and I forgot the name of the place. It felt alright. I had just wanted to see more people there I guess. When you're first starting out, you might expect huge things when you just have to build from the ground up first. I believe you should always set your sights high. I think my love for performing just grew as I did it more and now I love it a lot. I actually can't wait 'til my next show!
V- Agreed, the only way to succeed in this world is to set your sights high and grab your dreams! Where is your next show so these nice readers can go check it out?
T- (laughing) that is yet to be announced. More than likely it will be at Fanshawe College at the Outback Shack Pub and Grill sometime in February. I can definitley let you know again so you can announce it.
V- Please do man, we have to get the masses out for that! Speaking of your music, your songs really have a reflection of your faith in them. How does your faith inspire you to make your music?
T- I think to a large degree that's what my album Titanopolis and my previous projects reflected on at that time I was just reflecting what I was raised on which is Islam. I still hold true to a lot of my Islamic beliefs but I feel that the natural progression of a person is to absorb and learn as much as they can of the world around them, which is actually encouraged in islamic teachings. In order for a person to truly learn they must be or try to be open and a lot of schools of thought or knowledge tries to tell you "No this is the only way and if you deviate from it you will burn." However, being that we are intelligent beings, this choice should be made up on our own. Not due to what someone else has told us. I had always reflected what I felt in my previous projects was beneficial from my faith and I still hold true to those teachings. Teachings like equality and unity amongst people. I feel they are important to share with people, beyond it just being a religious duty. I feel everything you do has to come from your heart and you gotta believe it.
Is that the sun producing the glare or just the aura of
tha Titan? Yep, this is what happens when you can't
afford clever caption writers!
V- You brought up some great points there and honestly, most religions basic principles are what you are speaking of: Respect for other beings, exchange of knowledge, being true to your faith but most importantly, everything you do should come from your heart. These are pretty basic principles that most people learn while they are very young but seem to forget about it the older they get. Do you believe that and if so, why do you think that is?
T- That is an excellent question man. The reason for this is becuase the environment we are brought up in is in direct conflict with that type of mindstate of equality and union amongst all human beings. That is primarly money. The money system turns people against each other and makes people competitive when they don't need to be. This is also how the ones in control or on top stay there. The poor and middle class keep sqwabbling for crumbs and whatever is kicked down to them while the people ontop of the pyramid keep looking out for thier own. We are all one family, but now we only see ourselves, rather than the big picture.
V- As they say, money is the root of all evil
T- Certainly man, and really it isn't anyone's real fault. It's just the environment we were born into. I believe with enough knowledge and education we can have a much better world for all people.
V- For sure man. Getting back to your album Titanopolis, there is a song with the same name (Titanopolis). What is it about?
T- That song is basically talking about the theme of the album which is that it is a city that reflects my personality with every street and district being a different part of who I am as a person. The chorus speaks of this as well, when I go "My vision and my story unfolds, in the streets of my world."
2ylite tha Titan loitering around a parking garage. How
do I know this? Because I was the guy taking this
picture!
V- That is easily one of, if not, the most innovative ideas for a song in any genre. In fact, your music differs from virtually everyone when it comes to your beliefs in Islam to Titanopolis to your inspirational rhymes. My favourite thing that you have done so far is the eleven minute and eleven second marathon rhyme you posted on YouTube called 11:11. What inspired you to make an eleven plus minute track?
T- (laughing) Man that is so flattering bro, very kind words man. I appreciate it bro. Maybe a few things had inspired me for that track. I had seen that many artists that I like made a track or two at one point that was just a massive verse so that was part of it for sure. More than anything I felt I needed a new challenge. Something new to try, which I thrive on. I love tackling something that people might percieve as difficult or near impossible to prove that it isn't and to use that to inspire and come out a fuller person afterwards.
V- Very inspirational. How long did it take from coming up with the first rhyme to posting it on the internet?
T- It was a process, It took several months, around 4-6 months to finish writing it. Partly because I wouldn't settle for anything less than my concept of perfection for it. Also, I guess I deal with a lot of things in my life. I don't know if it is more or less than the average person but I deal with them nonetheless. The beautiful thing about that song is that through all of it, it was still done. It makes me really proud everytime I hear it, to me it just reflects me to a very high degree. It also proves that positive energy cannot be halted!
V- Nobody can stop positive energy. Speaking of ironic, it is funny how all that positive energy is based on a song that is called 11:11 and it is eleven minutes long and eleven seconds (laughing)
T- (laughing) Yeah man it's all meant to be. That's what I guess the whole energy and vibe of that song is. It's a message within a message infinitely.
V- For sure! Unfortunately we have to wrap this up, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to?
T- Whats up everybody and all the true hip hop heads! Much Love, Peace and Unity to all mankind. Love and care about each other! we are all ONE! Thank you to anyone who supports me and loves real music and thank you Victor for this opportunity! My new album drops this year! Stay tuned.
Feel free to like 2ylite tha Titan on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/2yLite-Tha-Titan/9589966249Also, check out 2ylite tha Titans Youtube Channel- http://www.youtube.com/user/2yLiteThaTitan/videos
You can check out 2ylite tha Titan on Myspace at- www.myspace.com/2ylitethatitan
Monday, January 30, 2012
ARC Battle Group A Round 2 Scoring (Supportlocal)
Busy day for me getting everything caught up with this! You guys get two posts in one day! So the scoring for the ARC Battle is in for each band... All scores are out of 100 so here we go! For more detailed results, please visit arcbattle.com.
#1- Fallen Affliction- 90.67
- These guys were clearly the best of the best on Friday and deserve the win. The stage presence clearly put these boys over the top!
Victor Ranking- #1
#2- Arkham Awaits- 87
- In my opinion, it was a toss up between these guys and Clearpoint. While the audience participation was subpar in the score breakdown, they killed it with their professionalism and musicianship. They deserve to advance
Victor Ranking- #2 (tie)
#3- Clearpoint- 86
- Apparently, the ARC judges agree with me! The thing that hurt Clearpoint was the musicianship, which could have been the vocals cutting in and out that I preluded to in my report featured below this one. If these guys keep plying their craft, they will be a force to be reckoned with locally as they are still young guys. No favoritism, I swear :)
Victor Ranking- #2 (tie)
#4- Sea Bugs- 76
These guys are a raw group and shouldn't be ashamed of their score at all. The other three just took care of the small things very well, something most young bands fail to do just based off of inexperience. If they keep plugging away and take the time to observe what the more seasoned bands are doing, they could be a band to watch in a couple of years.
Victor Ranking- #4
#5- Orso- 65.67
This score looks lower than I think it should be. Then again, I have no idea how professional they were or how bonus points are truly marked. They do need to work on stage presence and audience participation and those are the things that killed these guys off in the scoring (also bonus points). Still, despite the score they put on a good show and shouldn't be ashamed of their performance. Young bands usually have to work out kinks and if they learn from this and work on their weaknesses, they could do good things.
Victor Ranking- #5
#1- Fallen Affliction- 90.67
- These guys were clearly the best of the best on Friday and deserve the win. The stage presence clearly put these boys over the top!
Victor Ranking- #1
#2- Arkham Awaits- 87
- In my opinion, it was a toss up between these guys and Clearpoint. While the audience participation was subpar in the score breakdown, they killed it with their professionalism and musicianship. They deserve to advance
Victor Ranking- #2 (tie)
#3- Clearpoint- 86
- Apparently, the ARC judges agree with me! The thing that hurt Clearpoint was the musicianship, which could have been the vocals cutting in and out that I preluded to in my report featured below this one. If these guys keep plying their craft, they will be a force to be reckoned with locally as they are still young guys. No favoritism, I swear :)
Victor Ranking- #2 (tie)
#4- Sea Bugs- 76
These guys are a raw group and shouldn't be ashamed of their score at all. The other three just took care of the small things very well, something most young bands fail to do just based off of inexperience. If they keep plugging away and take the time to observe what the more seasoned bands are doing, they could be a band to watch in a couple of years.
Victor Ranking- #4
#5- Orso- 65.67
This score looks lower than I think it should be. Then again, I have no idea how professional they were or how bonus points are truly marked. They do need to work on stage presence and audience participation and those are the things that killed these guys off in the scoring (also bonus points). Still, despite the score they put on a good show and shouldn't be ashamed of their performance. Young bands usually have to work out kinks and if they learn from this and work on their weaknesses, they could do good things.
Victor Ranking- #5
ARC Battle Group A Round 2 Report (Supportlocal)
(Victor note- Sorry if this blog is not as good as my last one. I was sick for the entire week last week and took a lot of medicine/advil/orange juice just to get out of bed and attend this event. Luckily, it was still an awesome show and I got to catch up with more people I haven't seen in awhile while listening to some great bands. Unfortunately, I couldn't look at my iPod that I use to take the notes for too long without getting dizzy so I didn't take many notes and didn't pay attention at times.
Also, I am starting up my first interview column today with a great underground artist whose political and spiritual views are amazing. It will be a must read for everyone. Hopefully it will be done by Thursday. Now on with the show!)
So here I am, at the front doors of the ARC Battle at the historic venue of the Schwaben Club (not really sure how historic it is but it really sounds good, doesn't it?) waiting for seven and I'm being mocked by the security guy since I was the first one waiting to get it. I get to go into the show a few minutes later and I'm stoked for this. Not only because it's my second official entry for Supportlocal, not only because I love these indie/underground events but also because I get to finally see the band I'm personally cheering for in this competition, Clearpoint. (Quick backstory- I worked with both the lead guitarist, Hansel Beekmeyer and the lead singer, Davis Thorne at the grocery store. In fact I was Hansels boss. Luckily we get along very well and that kid helped me out huge multiple times. This is how I found out about Clearpoint and since I know both of them, I consider them my "Home Team" for this competition.) Also, I'm excited to hear what the other bands have to offer as well as I love finding new bands.
So who is one of the first people I see when I walk past the ticket/ARC Cloathing stand? Davis Thorne, lead singer of Clearpoint and former grocery store slave. We talk for a bit, catch up and then who walks by? Hansel Beekmeyer, guitarist for Clearpoint and not only a grocery store slave like myself but I was actually his boss for over two years. So we talk about the show, grocery store crap, blah blah blah and I buy their CD (Only $5! Send me a tweet @_victor_says on Twitter or @clearpointband if you want one) (Victor note- Send a Tweet on Twitter? Damn, I must have been sick!) After all that talking I go talk to Cory Crossman (ARC co-kingpin), the judge for the show and the sound guy. Apparently the band that scored 0 last week was the first band as they did not meet the requirements needed to be in the competition so they were actually disqualified. Not going to go into any details on why, let's just say some people are just lazy. After all that, the first band goes on so I gots to get ready!
First band is off and running and we get some heavy stuff. Good opening, reminds me of a hybrid between System of a Down and Megadeth. Vocals are okay, think Cradle of Filth with a hint of Killswitch with the screaming. I can't make out the lyrics when they're not screaming. Either it's because of my sickness or the lead isn't a very clear speaker. These guys have the business sense to use the residential photographer so they get business points from me. These guys are definately going for the Megadeth sound with the Iron Maiden solos, it makes a good sound. When these guys go for the slower song route, it just doesn't work and comes off a bit flat. Lead singer only has one good vocal speed and that's a fast paced setting. The table with the suburban moms from last week has... New suburban moms! Only at ARC Battle folks!
Overall these guys were pretty good. If they stick with the fast paced Megadeth style filled with those wicked instrumental pieces, they can do some damage on the local scene. Good business sense, probably could've interacted a bit more with the crowd but they did a bit so no foul.
Current Victor Ranking This Round- #1
So off to outside to recalibrate my vision and get some air as everything just got dizzy. Good night to get some fresh air, lucky me. Too bad I'm not a fan of Winter. Seriously, I cheer for Global Warming in the Winter because cold is my mortal enemy. I know it's a horrible thing to say but screw it, I like warm weather! Get back inside and run into Rick, who is actually judging the competition this week along with the other guy whose name escapes me right now. We talk for a bit and then I go and talk to Davis, who is thankful that I showed up. I kind of had to tell him it's more of a business thing but it's still a pleasure to be there, cheering these guys on... well, as much as a sick guy that has to constantly type out notes can anyways. Second band is sound checking so time to go back to my usual table.
Band two comes out with some punkish sounds. The lead singer should never scream. It's one of those rape whistle scenarios I mentioned in last weeks blog. The only way I can really describe it is like watching a 13 year old boy scream with the voice cracking. These guys are young and it is possible the lead isn't used to doing the screaming thing. Instrumentals are pretty good. Vocals are okay but not very fluid. It comes off awkward vocally at times with the weird note changes. These guys announce that they are the Sea Frogs. Good call boys, announce your presence. These guys don't show much energy on stage and it takes away from their sound. I don't care what anyone says, music is more than just the sound they make. You need sizzle to that steak. Hmmm, there's some kid dancing around like an idiot. Not like enjoying the music dancing but more like pretending to swim with water wings on while standing up dancing. The last two songs by the Frogs are pretty good and really showed their potential. Right as I'm typing this, three little girls just walked by. Like 10 year olds walking by. I think I'm now hallucinating somehow.
Overall, the Sea Frogs have good potential but are still a raw product. Their first two songs were sort of awkward at times but the last two were prety good. I hope they keep honing their craft and improving with every day. They also need to sponge off the ways of the veteran bands in the area who can give them advice on the other ends of this industry. Put some energy into your movement, connect with the crowd, promote yourselves etc... If they put everything together and get serious, they have the potential to make some noise.
Current Victor Ranking This Round- #2
(Insert whatever I did during the break... I have no idea. It probably involved geting more Sprite.)
Clearpoint is doing their sound checks and I'm ready for my home team. Have to remember not to be biased and give a real report. First thing the lead does is encourage the crowd to get close to the stage. I know these boys and they're charismatic enough that if they play to the audience, they're going to get bonus points for that in my books. These guys are bringing a heavy sound. Instrumentals are pretty good but the vocals keep cutting out. There might be something wrong with the mic sound. They also brought the local photographer too! Wonder if they read this last week? (Victor Note- probably not) Good instrumental piece in there. Before the second song the lead addresses the mic sound issues. This is why we do sound checks guys. The crowd is getting into it so the zombies are showing some life! Only took a week but I'll take it. The lead is giving shoutouts to the bands and ARC for the oppurtunity. These guys are killing my bonus points here, hopefully the judges feel the same way. These guys are busting out a heavier version of Lady Gagas' Paparazzi. Very innovative boys. The vocals just cut out again. This could hurt them if it keeps up. The people at the table ahead of me are drumming along on their table and almost spill some beers. Pretty funny stuff right there. The lead just acknowedged the crowd as not being overly lively. Okay, these guys had to have read my last ARC Battle report. (Victor Note- Probably not.) Some mom is rubbing her sons back in a very sensual manner. That's disturbing. I should give him the number for Kids Help Phone, no means no touchy mom! Oh wait, upon further review that might be his girlfriend, who just dresses like a mom. Yikes.
Overall I was very impressed with these guys. They had a great sound and nailed virtually every business and crowd points in my books. The only thing I'd be worried about would be the vocals cutting out at times. If it is the mic, it is your responsibility as a band to get that tuned properly during the checks before your set. If it was the vocals, I would take a good look into the sound you guys are putting out there and modify who does certain parts in the vocals if the lead cannot hit the certain notes that are cutting out. That could've crippled their chances this round but we'll have to find out!
Current Victor Ranking This Round- #1
(Insert whatever I was doing in the break. Probably getting pizza and giving Rick some pizza. I'm pretty sure it was this break)
Fallen Affliction is up and screaming away! Great instrumentals and good vocals. They're pushing for the zombies to sing along but they're zombies so they just kept nodding their heads. Lead singer is getting right into it. Easily the best showcase of getting the energy behind your music so far. The zombies are head banging like crazy. they live! The lead is doing this thing where he's dangling the mic over the crowds head a la Peter Griffin with the Twinkie to Chris to get him to work out. (Victor Note- I realize he put a plunger on Chris' head. Get a life and keep reading. Of course, I mean that in the nicest way possible.) These guys are also using the photographer. Fallen Affliction is taking this competition by storm right now. The dumbass drummer boy behind me almost spilled his beer again. Meanwhile, the little kids are still here during this heavy music. I hope they start moshing! The rest of the crowd started to mosh around a bit, that's good enough. The little girls were prancing up and down the floor. I need more cough syrup!
Overall these guys dominated their set and are now a heavy favourite in this Battle. Great instrumentals, great vocals. They have a business sense about them. They showed respect to everyone and most importantly they got the zombie like crowd to get up and move around. They played the crowd perfectly with their energy. Impressive set boys, you got my attention!
Current Victor Ranking This Round- #1
(Insert whatever I was doing here...)
Next band is up playing the heavy stuff and two guys are moshing... Right out of the Schwaben Club? I'm so confused right now. Instrumentals are very solid. Vocals are great, the lead shows all sorts of range in his voice. It's funny that his screaming is equally as good as his singing. That's surprisingly a rare trait from the indie bands I've seen. The little kids are running around to heavy music. I'm already screwed up right now, you kids aren't helping! The band even made a comment about the kids being at a show with heavy music and beer. That just made my night. These guys don't alter their sound from song to song and it works pretty well. Just saw a kid who didn't peel the stickers off his hat. I can't stand those kids as stickered baseball hats are the worst fad ever. I'd rather see kids wear zubaz and neon pink muscle shirts with mullets than those kids with the stickered hats. They do a shoutout to the bands and ARC. Backup vocals are pretty good and really compliments the lead well.
Overall, these guys killed it. Another great band going in with a good sound and hitting all the bonus points with crowd interacion, business sense and energy on stage. They just made this a three way race for a two spot race. Should be interesting on who is moving on.
Current Victor Ranking This Round- Tie for #2
At the end of the show they announced who is advancing. Also announced is that even the bands that don't officially advance can still make it to the finals via fan vote. Good to know, I'll be whoring that out to the masses. So the bands advancing are...
Fallen Affliction and...
... Arkham Awaits (The last band)!!!
Both of these guys are deserving of this as they both killed it tonight. Sure, I wish Clearpoint got the nod because of my connection with those guys but they still put on one hell of a show and were in a very tough heat. Also, they still have a shot and I believe they have the talent to still put up a fight if they get in through the fan vote. No band that played today has anything to be ashamed of, they all put on a great show and it was one of the best indie shows I've ever had the pleasure of being at. A big congratulations to every band that played today for their effort.
Also, I am starting up my first interview column today with a great underground artist whose political and spiritual views are amazing. It will be a must read for everyone. Hopefully it will be done by Thursday. Now on with the show!)
So here I am, at the front doors of the ARC Battle at the historic venue of the Schwaben Club (not really sure how historic it is but it really sounds good, doesn't it?) waiting for seven and I'm being mocked by the security guy since I was the first one waiting to get it. I get to go into the show a few minutes later and I'm stoked for this. Not only because it's my second official entry for Supportlocal, not only because I love these indie/underground events but also because I get to finally see the band I'm personally cheering for in this competition, Clearpoint. (Quick backstory- I worked with both the lead guitarist, Hansel Beekmeyer and the lead singer, Davis Thorne at the grocery store. In fact I was Hansels boss. Luckily we get along very well and that kid helped me out huge multiple times. This is how I found out about Clearpoint and since I know both of them, I consider them my "Home Team" for this competition.) Also, I'm excited to hear what the other bands have to offer as well as I love finding new bands.
So who is one of the first people I see when I walk past the ticket/ARC Cloathing stand? Davis Thorne, lead singer of Clearpoint and former grocery store slave. We talk for a bit, catch up and then who walks by? Hansel Beekmeyer, guitarist for Clearpoint and not only a grocery store slave like myself but I was actually his boss for over two years. So we talk about the show, grocery store crap, blah blah blah and I buy their CD (Only $5! Send me a tweet @_victor_says on Twitter or @clearpointband if you want one) (Victor note- Send a Tweet on Twitter? Damn, I must have been sick!) After all that talking I go talk to Cory Crossman (ARC co-kingpin), the judge for the show and the sound guy. Apparently the band that scored 0 last week was the first band as they did not meet the requirements needed to be in the competition so they were actually disqualified. Not going to go into any details on why, let's just say some people are just lazy. After all that, the first band goes on so I gots to get ready!
First band is off and running and we get some heavy stuff. Good opening, reminds me of a hybrid between System of a Down and Megadeth. Vocals are okay, think Cradle of Filth with a hint of Killswitch with the screaming. I can't make out the lyrics when they're not screaming. Either it's because of my sickness or the lead isn't a very clear speaker. These guys have the business sense to use the residential photographer so they get business points from me. These guys are definately going for the Megadeth sound with the Iron Maiden solos, it makes a good sound. When these guys go for the slower song route, it just doesn't work and comes off a bit flat. Lead singer only has one good vocal speed and that's a fast paced setting. The table with the suburban moms from last week has... New suburban moms! Only at ARC Battle folks!
Overall these guys were pretty good. If they stick with the fast paced Megadeth style filled with those wicked instrumental pieces, they can do some damage on the local scene. Good business sense, probably could've interacted a bit more with the crowd but they did a bit so no foul.
Current Victor Ranking This Round- #1
So off to outside to recalibrate my vision and get some air as everything just got dizzy. Good night to get some fresh air, lucky me. Too bad I'm not a fan of Winter. Seriously, I cheer for Global Warming in the Winter because cold is my mortal enemy. I know it's a horrible thing to say but screw it, I like warm weather! Get back inside and run into Rick, who is actually judging the competition this week along with the other guy whose name escapes me right now. We talk for a bit and then I go and talk to Davis, who is thankful that I showed up. I kind of had to tell him it's more of a business thing but it's still a pleasure to be there, cheering these guys on... well, as much as a sick guy that has to constantly type out notes can anyways. Second band is sound checking so time to go back to my usual table.
Band two comes out with some punkish sounds. The lead singer should never scream. It's one of those rape whistle scenarios I mentioned in last weeks blog. The only way I can really describe it is like watching a 13 year old boy scream with the voice cracking. These guys are young and it is possible the lead isn't used to doing the screaming thing. Instrumentals are pretty good. Vocals are okay but not very fluid. It comes off awkward vocally at times with the weird note changes. These guys announce that they are the Sea Frogs. Good call boys, announce your presence. These guys don't show much energy on stage and it takes away from their sound. I don't care what anyone says, music is more than just the sound they make. You need sizzle to that steak. Hmmm, there's some kid dancing around like an idiot. Not like enjoying the music dancing but more like pretending to swim with water wings on while standing up dancing. The last two songs by the Frogs are pretty good and really showed their potential. Right as I'm typing this, three little girls just walked by. Like 10 year olds walking by. I think I'm now hallucinating somehow.
Overall, the Sea Frogs have good potential but are still a raw product. Their first two songs were sort of awkward at times but the last two were prety good. I hope they keep honing their craft and improving with every day. They also need to sponge off the ways of the veteran bands in the area who can give them advice on the other ends of this industry. Put some energy into your movement, connect with the crowd, promote yourselves etc... If they put everything together and get serious, they have the potential to make some noise.
Current Victor Ranking This Round- #2
(Insert whatever I did during the break... I have no idea. It probably involved geting more Sprite.)
Clearpoint is doing their sound checks and I'm ready for my home team. Have to remember not to be biased and give a real report. First thing the lead does is encourage the crowd to get close to the stage. I know these boys and they're charismatic enough that if they play to the audience, they're going to get bonus points for that in my books. These guys are bringing a heavy sound. Instrumentals are pretty good but the vocals keep cutting out. There might be something wrong with the mic sound. They also brought the local photographer too! Wonder if they read this last week? (Victor Note- probably not) Good instrumental piece in there. Before the second song the lead addresses the mic sound issues. This is why we do sound checks guys. The crowd is getting into it so the zombies are showing some life! Only took a week but I'll take it. The lead is giving shoutouts to the bands and ARC for the oppurtunity. These guys are killing my bonus points here, hopefully the judges feel the same way. These guys are busting out a heavier version of Lady Gagas' Paparazzi. Very innovative boys. The vocals just cut out again. This could hurt them if it keeps up. The people at the table ahead of me are drumming along on their table and almost spill some beers. Pretty funny stuff right there. The lead just acknowedged the crowd as not being overly lively. Okay, these guys had to have read my last ARC Battle report. (Victor Note- Probably not.) Some mom is rubbing her sons back in a very sensual manner. That's disturbing. I should give him the number for Kids Help Phone, no means no touchy mom! Oh wait, upon further review that might be his girlfriend, who just dresses like a mom. Yikes.
Overall I was very impressed with these guys. They had a great sound and nailed virtually every business and crowd points in my books. The only thing I'd be worried about would be the vocals cutting out at times. If it is the mic, it is your responsibility as a band to get that tuned properly during the checks before your set. If it was the vocals, I would take a good look into the sound you guys are putting out there and modify who does certain parts in the vocals if the lead cannot hit the certain notes that are cutting out. That could've crippled their chances this round but we'll have to find out!
Current Victor Ranking This Round- #1
(Insert whatever I was doing in the break. Probably getting pizza and giving Rick some pizza. I'm pretty sure it was this break)
Fallen Affliction is up and screaming away! Great instrumentals and good vocals. They're pushing for the zombies to sing along but they're zombies so they just kept nodding their heads. Lead singer is getting right into it. Easily the best showcase of getting the energy behind your music so far. The zombies are head banging like crazy. they live! The lead is doing this thing where he's dangling the mic over the crowds head a la Peter Griffin with the Twinkie to Chris to get him to work out. (Victor Note- I realize he put a plunger on Chris' head. Get a life and keep reading. Of course, I mean that in the nicest way possible.) These guys are also using the photographer. Fallen Affliction is taking this competition by storm right now. The dumbass drummer boy behind me almost spilled his beer again. Meanwhile, the little kids are still here during this heavy music. I hope they start moshing! The rest of the crowd started to mosh around a bit, that's good enough. The little girls were prancing up and down the floor. I need more cough syrup!
Overall these guys dominated their set and are now a heavy favourite in this Battle. Great instrumentals, great vocals. They have a business sense about them. They showed respect to everyone and most importantly they got the zombie like crowd to get up and move around. They played the crowd perfectly with their energy. Impressive set boys, you got my attention!
Current Victor Ranking This Round- #1
(Insert whatever I was doing here...)
Next band is up playing the heavy stuff and two guys are moshing... Right out of the Schwaben Club? I'm so confused right now. Instrumentals are very solid. Vocals are great, the lead shows all sorts of range in his voice. It's funny that his screaming is equally as good as his singing. That's surprisingly a rare trait from the indie bands I've seen. The little kids are running around to heavy music. I'm already screwed up right now, you kids aren't helping! The band even made a comment about the kids being at a show with heavy music and beer. That just made my night. These guys don't alter their sound from song to song and it works pretty well. Just saw a kid who didn't peel the stickers off his hat. I can't stand those kids as stickered baseball hats are the worst fad ever. I'd rather see kids wear zubaz and neon pink muscle shirts with mullets than those kids with the stickered hats. They do a shoutout to the bands and ARC. Backup vocals are pretty good and really compliments the lead well.
Overall, these guys killed it. Another great band going in with a good sound and hitting all the bonus points with crowd interacion, business sense and energy on stage. They just made this a three way race for a two spot race. Should be interesting on who is moving on.
Current Victor Ranking This Round- Tie for #2
At the end of the show they announced who is advancing. Also announced is that even the bands that don't officially advance can still make it to the finals via fan vote. Good to know, I'll be whoring that out to the masses. So the bands advancing are...
Fallen Affliction and...
... Arkham Awaits (The last band)!!!
Both of these guys are deserving of this as they both killed it tonight. Sure, I wish Clearpoint got the nod because of my connection with those guys but they still put on one hell of a show and were in a very tough heat. Also, they still have a shot and I believe they have the talent to still put up a fight if they get in through the fan vote. No band that played today has anything to be ashamed of, they all put on a great show and it was one of the best indie shows I've ever had the pleasure of being at. A big congratulations to every band that played today for their effort.
Monday, January 23, 2012
ARC Battle 2012 Update (SupportLocal)
Hey ladies and gents, just a quick update on the ARC Battle from Friday. So the first show is done and in the books (Check below this blog for my review on the show) and today the updated rankings have come out for the bands from the judges. Here is how the breakdown is done.
Scoring is based on a 100 point scoring system.
/25 PROFESSIONALISM - Did the band arrive on time, we're they curtious to others, we're they good on the mic, did they set up and tear down in a timely manner, was the band respectful of the venue staff, sound tech etc.
/20 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - Did they captivate the audience, was the audience engaged and active?, Was there a captive audience watching the band play?
/20 STAGE PRESENCE - Was the band entertaining & coherent?, did they fill the stage and room with their presence?
/20 MUSICIANSHIP - Can each member play their instrument? Can they play together? Is one instrument overpowering another?
/15 ORIGINALITY - Is the music original? Does it sound like everyone else?
Everybody got that? Good. So here is how each band scored and in brackets will be my opinion.
The Hollow Sea- 0 for everything with a score of... 0
(I'm not really sure if these guys even showed up and one of the unknown bands were a last minute call. Way to waste a great oppurtunity)
Keep The Change- 69
(Not sure which band this was but if I had to guess, they were the first guys that played. Yes I could send an e-mail to Cory and find out who was who but here's the way I look at it. If a band doesn't tell people who they are when they're not a mainstream headlining band, why should I have to take my time researching who you are when you can take the five seconds to introduce yourselves? Yes, I sound a bit like a jackass with that answer but it's true. A big part of the industry is making a name for yourselves. How do you do it? Tell everyone who you are when you're playing somewhere is a good start.)
Malignant Theory- 89
(This was my top choice and even though they didn't get the top spot, they came a close second and they have nothing to be ashamed about whatsoever. They put on a great showing on Friday and should be proud of their performance)
Split The Skye- 91
(This was my second choice but just like the official rankings, it was 1a, 1b for me. They put on a great showing and earned a win in this qualifier.)
Living In Trees- 76.66
(I'm assuming this was the second or last band that played. Either way whichever kids got this score should be proud of themselves for this score and keep working on their craft. Either one could make some noise locally if they keep working at it over the next few years.)
So on Friday, Round two of Group A will commence at the Schwaben Club at 7pm. I'm very excited for this one as the band I'm personally rooting for, Clearpoint, will be performing (I consider them my "home team" of this show as I worked with both Davis Thorne and Hansel Beekmeyer at the grocery store and they're good guys) but there won't be no personal bias from yours truly. Here is the lineup for this Friday.
- Clearpoint
- Fallen Affliction
- Arkham Awaits
- Sea Bugs
- You First After Me
To get more in-depth results of the ARC Battle, go to arcbattle.com for more information.
So that's all for now. On Saturday you will get another update from me about the next round of ARC Battle. Until then, stay frosty kids!
Victor Bast
Scoring is based on a 100 point scoring system.
/25 PROFESSIONALISM - Did the band arrive on time, we're they curtious to others, we're they good on the mic, did they set up and tear down in a timely manner, was the band respectful of the venue staff, sound tech etc.
/20 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - Did they captivate the audience, was the audience engaged and active?, Was there a captive audience watching the band play?
/20 STAGE PRESENCE - Was the band entertaining & coherent?, did they fill the stage and room with their presence?
/20 MUSICIANSHIP - Can each member play their instrument? Can they play together? Is one instrument overpowering another?
/15 ORIGINALITY - Is the music original? Does it sound like everyone else?
Everybody got that? Good. So here is how each band scored and in brackets will be my opinion.
The Hollow Sea- 0 for everything with a score of... 0
(I'm not really sure if these guys even showed up and one of the unknown bands were a last minute call. Way to waste a great oppurtunity)
Keep The Change- 69
(Not sure which band this was but if I had to guess, they were the first guys that played. Yes I could send an e-mail to Cory and find out who was who but here's the way I look at it. If a band doesn't tell people who they are when they're not a mainstream headlining band, why should I have to take my time researching who you are when you can take the five seconds to introduce yourselves? Yes, I sound a bit like a jackass with that answer but it's true. A big part of the industry is making a name for yourselves. How do you do it? Tell everyone who you are when you're playing somewhere is a good start.)
Malignant Theory- 89
(This was my top choice and even though they didn't get the top spot, they came a close second and they have nothing to be ashamed about whatsoever. They put on a great showing on Friday and should be proud of their performance)
Split The Skye- 91
(This was my second choice but just like the official rankings, it was 1a, 1b for me. They put on a great showing and earned a win in this qualifier.)
Living In Trees- 76.66
(I'm assuming this was the second or last band that played. Either way whichever kids got this score should be proud of themselves for this score and keep working on their craft. Either one could make some noise locally if they keep working at it over the next few years.)
So on Friday, Round two of Group A will commence at the Schwaben Club at 7pm. I'm very excited for this one as the band I'm personally rooting for, Clearpoint, will be performing (I consider them my "home team" of this show as I worked with both Davis Thorne and Hansel Beekmeyer at the grocery store and they're good guys) but there won't be no personal bias from yours truly. Here is the lineup for this Friday.
- Clearpoint
- Fallen Affliction
- Arkham Awaits
- Sea Bugs
- You First After Me
To get more in-depth results of the ARC Battle, go to arcbattle.com for more information.
So that's all for now. On Saturday you will get another update from me about the next round of ARC Battle. Until then, stay frosty kids!
Victor Bast
Saturday, January 21, 2012
ARC Battle 2012 Group A First Round Review (#supportlocal)
So yesterday I attended the first ARC Battle of this year at the Schwaben Club. For those of you who have no idea what exactly the ARC Battle is, here is a pretty brief description. The ARC Battle is a yearly battle of the bands competition hosted by local clothing company ARC Cloathing and it features some of the best up and coming bands in the region. I figured that since I'm just starting up this supportlocal program and I've always been intrigued by this battle, I figured that this would be the perfect start to my program. I can spread the word of not only these bands but also the work ARC has put into this event. The bands showcased in this qualifier are The Hollow Sea, Keep The Change, Living In Trees, Split The Skye and Malignant Theory.
I've heard of the last two, the first three are a mystery to me.
So basically what I've done for the inaugural ARC Battle of the year is I wrote down my thoughts as the event was going on. Not only about the performances but also my usual insane thoughts. Think of it as a psuedo-live blog. So without further adieu, here is everything I wrote down from my adventure yesterday.
5:30pm- Getting ready to head out to grab something to eat before hitting up the ARC Battle. Honestly, I'm pretty stoked for this event. The past couple years I haven't been able to check any of the battles out due to an incredibly hectic schedule but this year I can and it is the perfect time to go out and not only see this show and make it my first local promotion but also to catch up with one of the dudes running it, Cory Crossman (Myself and Cory went to Jr. High and High School together and I used to keep in touch a bit back when I was doing the internet radio schtick. Got some shirts made by him on several occasions and they were awesome.). Figure that before the show, I'll go to Bobby O'Briens downtown and grab some eats before heading to the show. You have no idea how excited I am for this!
6:45pm- Just leaving Bobby O'Briens and on my way to the show. Have to say, the Spicy Cajun burger is amazing there. I recommend it to everyone. Would've been perfect if not for the guys beside me at the bar talking about golf the entire time I was there. Seriously, nobody needs to talk about golf for over a half hour and what kind of eight iron gets better lift on the 12th hole at Mary Hill. Not big on golf at all. Good thing Bobby O's always plays good music. Anytime you walk in and hear Offsprings Come Out and Play, you're going to have a good time.
7:00pm- Apparently I could've taken my time at Bobby O's. Got there at seven and the security guy wasn't letting people in. Hopefully this doesn't last too long because it's freezing out here and I'm a retard for wearing a short sleeve dress shirt under my coat. Not the smartest move.
7:06pm- Didn't take long at all, luckily. Get in, pay my $10 ticket charge and who's the first person I see? Cory Crossman, my old high school classmate. We catch up on some things, I explain what exactly I'm trying to accomplish with Supportlocal and so on. He then gives me a local magazine and to contact the editor. Apparently she's looking for help. That's awesome on so many levels, going to capitalize on that for sure. He says the pre-ticket sales for today were kind of weak. Didn't seem too bad for the place just opening. I've been in far worse. So we go our seperate ways, I grab a drink and a seat and get ready for the show.
Around 7:30pm- So the first band is apparently playing. Not sure who they are exactly. I either missed their intro while grabbing a drink or they decided to not introduce themselves. They're a young group of guys, probably out of high school. These guys are doing the death metal gimmick going on so the lead is just screaming whatever he's screaming. The instrumentals are pretty solid. Great drum work by the drummer. The lead singer keeps screaming so it's hard to judge the quality of said screams. In the screaming genre, I've heard better screaming but it's not the worst I've ever heard. Probably not the best description for a review but it is what it is. The guitarist/backup singer needs to work on his vocals. Song ends and apparently they have no merch there because they're huge in Europe. At least they have a good sense of humour. They get a bonus point for that. Next song goes and I really wish I could understand what the screaming lyrics are. You can actually understand what some of the screaming is in some bands. These guys I have no clue. They could be singing about buying groceries from Costco as far as I know. Did the band just take a quick drink break mid song?!?! Seriously, that was a five second pause so the lead could sip his drink. Honestly, that's a huge negative for me. The lead singer looks winded as the song seems to be ending. Song ends and the lead says there's a few more songs. Is he going to survive that long? He looks like he's going to need an oxygen tank in the next couple of minutes. Also noticed that the lead points to his head a lot while screaming in every song. I'll give him points for energy but switch it up unless all your songs are about brain freeze. The drummer has been screaming along too, which is pretty cool in my eyes. One more song and apparently it's from their recently filmed music video. This song easily kills their other ones they played, very solid effort. These guys also get credit for showing energy during the instrumental solo in the song.
Overall these guys put up a solid effort but are still rough around the edges, which is expected from a young band. They showed good energy, even if sometimes it came off as a bit forced. The drummer was solid and energetic. Guitar/bass did their part but both looked a bit lethargic in the performance for the kind of music they're playing. Could be an inexperience thing. The lead singer was mostly screaming and has some work to do with the screaming. However the lead showed some stage presence and got into his music, which is essential when on stage performing heavy music. I liked their stage presence for the most part but if they didn't introduce themselves, they lose points. Unless you're a famous band, introduce yourself.
Place so far in competition- 1st
I'm not going to type down times until the end since I'm lazy. Next band is setting up and there's not too many people in here yet. While wandering around, I ran into another dude I went to high school with, Rick Wren. We shoot the poop for a bit, catch up and go our seperate ways. Small world we live in. The place is slowly filling up and the sound test is happening so I best be getting ready.
The second band doesn't introduce themselves. Seriously guys? They're also young. Like 15 year old young. The table ahead of me must be their family because they're cheering and consist of about four moms. Very weird to be at a battle and see peoples moms in mom clothing. It's like listening to good music at a grade school presentation of A Christmas Carol. They have a very chille sound that reminds me of Sublime. All the instrumentals seem off from a volume perspective. Drums and bass are noticeable but no sign of the guitar. The lead is doing a good job, needs to work on his range a bit. Then again, he might have just got his man voice so I can't be too critical. Wow, just realized that comment was a bit insulting. Wasn't intended to be, I swear! The crowd aka their family and friends loved it. Next song is called The Fig and apparently the leads dad wrote it. Don't think he was joking. The sound issues with the instrumentals seem to be fixed as there's a better harmony between the instruments. Pretty good song too. Next song, Favourite girl plays and it's good but very similar in sound to the last one. They get to the next song, 40 nights and it's about playing XBox. Seriously dude? Everyone knows that PS3 is far superior. Screw your XBox! Some random people just sat at my table and brought McDonalds. The dude across from me is eating McNuggets. Great, now I'm hungry. This song is, once again, familiar to the last one but it's not a bad thing. These kids have a good sound. The last song I found out is on iTunes, so I guess I can find out who these guys are when I write this report! (Victor Note- I checked and it's not there. Either I screwed up somehow or they did. Either or.) The next song is different and a cover of a song whose name escapes me. It's pretty good. The girl at the table I'm at seems to have forgotten how to eat her Big Mac. It was funnier than it's supposed to be. Don't think she was drunk by any stretch so I'm not sure what was up. The family of the band are dancing to their kids songs. This was so unintentionally funny to watch, you have no idea. This is like a bizarro show. Times are changing, that's for sure. The next song is a bit diferent from their other stuff but still very good. These guys just jumped into the pole position based on my unofficial ratings that have no relevance to anything. Some spazzy chick just ran to the table spouting off jibberish to the other people like a psychopath predicting the end of days and to repent your sins. I have no idea what she was saying, it was that bad. Someone keep her away from caffeinated products, stat! Aside from the spaz, the song was good. Calling your Name is next. The beginning is slow and it really doesn't suit their style at all. They pick it up and we're back on course. The Big Mac girl also is confused about eating fries because she tries to drink her fries from the McDonalds cardboard fry dealie. That or inhale them like a duck or something. This is already the most unintentionally funny show I've ever ben to. Aside from the opening, this song was also pretty good. Time's up for these dudes!
Overall I was impressed by these teenage almost mutant not quite ninja artists. They're very talented for their age and if they keep up with honing their craft, they could make some noise. Unfortunately, no matter how good you are, if you don't tell people who you are most people won't look into it. People are pretty lazy and if you're unknown, that Shazam app is pretty useless. Also I believe it's in the band code of conduct not to bring your parents that came from the suburbs in their suburban clothing wear and dance like suburban parents to your show. I'm glad they're supportive and you have no problem with it, it just looks weird. Then again, I think my generation is a bit different (Victor note- I'm 27. I'm talking like I'm 57. I feel old, I'm now going to mix me some Metamucil and watch a show about dogs wearing hats before TV Bingo).
Place so far in competition- 1st
For some reason, mic checks entertain me. The one guy is going to wear a devil horn tuque while doing his thing. That's awesome! I think these guys are going to be fun to watch. I go sit at a table with Rick, some of the judges and the ever wandering for pitchers of beer wonder known as Cory. I talk to one of the judges and we talk about the last band. He agrees that it's weird to see a suburban family cheer on a band at a show like they did. At least it's not just me.
People are crowding in for this one. This one is going heavy! Instrumentals are solid and there's more screaming. Luckily this guys screaming is better than the first bands. I'm absolutely stunned that nobody is moshing to these guys. I know if I wasn't playing reporter I'd be right in there. There's a photographer taking pics as they're doing their set, which is pretty cool. These guys are taking their craft seriously and are in it to win it. Love it. Finally, some moshing... by about five people... for about 20 seconds. These guys are great at doing extended solos, very good sound. I can't understand the lyrics because of the screaming but these guys do it well enough that the energy from the music is good enough to not care. This lack of moshing is partially depressing. Somebody give everyone some coffee, a kick to the groin, anything! The next song is dedicated to throat slashing! That is amazing on so many levels. I like these guys. The lead is pulling out a megaphone?!?! Super bonus points for that. Now there's three moshers representing. I guess three is better than none. While this band is going crazy, two more people I went to high school with show up. If I ever gave a crap about high school long enough to buy a yearbook, I'd bring it to something like this. Wait, no I wouldn't. Yearbooks are pointless now that Facebook is around. That's right, suck it Grand River Collegiate student faculty! (Victor note- No idea if that's what they're called. I'm too old to remember apparently) Back to the band, they're now in first by a country mile. Systematic waste is next and sadly, no dedication to mutilation. A kid that looks like a mini version of Carrot Top just walked by. No joke, it had to be his clone. Carrot Top Jr. asks his parents for money... at a battle... with heavy music blaring. This is bizarro world right now. This song was good and Level of Being is up next. Starts off with the deep growl scream noise. Those noises are awesome, wish I could do them. The lead is screaming so intensely that you can't understand what he's saying. He could be screaming about Curious George stealing The Man In The Yellow Hats wallet and nobody would know. Actually, some band should do that. Another bizarro moment- Watching a suburban mom take pictures of a band screaming. The band is seperating the crowd Braveheart style for this next song. Could we see some moshing? 1...2...3...Yep, there's finally some moshing, even if the band had to influence it. The band made people mosh, they get points for that. Even if it only lasted for a minute. When the crowd split up, just noticed that the drummer is female. I love me some female artists. Set ends and they are Malignant Theory and they want you to tie your shoes! (Victor note- Their words, not mine)
Overall, these guys killed it. Great presence, great sound, great energy and they have a good business sense. This will be one of my favourites going into the other rounds of competition.
Place so far in competition- 1st
This place has thinned out something fierce. Guess the cool kids bedtime is 10pm now. The next band is Split the Skye. Crowds a gathering for these guys during their nice instrumental set. They start their first song and it's a lot faster. It reminds me a bit of Killswitch Engage. Instrumentals are great, vocals are decent. The first two bands have nothing compared to the last two. It is probably more of an experience thing as the last two bands are older (probably about mid 20's for both) while the first two bands are clearly still in high school. The lead has a great scream when he does it. I'm stunned by the lack of crowd participation, these guys have a sound you want to at least head bang to. Not stand their nodding your head like your at a jazz festival. The Return is the next song and it's another great song for the zombie audience. The old drink lady at the bar looks like she wants to unload shotgun shells at everyone here. I'm keeping an eye on her, she scares me. The lead gives a shoutout to the other bands. Very classy move. Next song has a killer opening...that keeps going... and going... and going... and it's over. Great instrumentals but why do that at a battle? Very confusing move. The last song is actually a song that is a bit different than the others but still very good. During the song, mini Carrot Top keeps wondering around. Probably for props to do a horrible comedy sketch. Hopefully it is in front of his stuffed animals and not me. I'm already partially confused.
Overall, Split the Skye did an amazing job. Great sound, good energy and good presence. Just like Malignant Theory, they came to win and have the skills to put up a fight in this competition. I loved how they gave a shout out to the other bands. It was a very classy move by these guys. Sadly, in my rankings these guys are behind Malignant Theory mainly because Malignant Theory went all out in their performance. Split the Skye did an amazing job but didn't have the same presence Malignant Theory had. They're a close second.
Place so far in competition- 2nd
Last band seems to be doing their sound check with softcore porn jazz music. This keeps getting more and more unintentionally funny for me, I'm loving this. After the porn groove, these guys just start playing. No warning or anything, they just go at it. They have a neat sound, the guitarist is using more of a Carlos Santana style riff. The vocalist just screamed and he really shouldn't. He might have killed some local dogs with that scream. Mini Carrot Top is leaving with his mumsy. Either it's his bed time or he is performing at Yuk Yuks downtown (Victor Note- I really shouldn't be ripping on this kid and I'm sorry, it's just what I was thinking. Sorry if I offended you mini Carrot Top). The instrumentals are good but the lead needs to work on the vocals. He's not hitting notes at times and it comes off a bit awkward. Next song starts and it's just instrumentals... for about three minutes. The sound of this song is good but it feels like they're just seamlessly doing their entire set with no pauses. It's that long of a song, no joke. Love the work the guitarist is doing, you can groove to that beat easily. The song finally ends and I feel like I just ran a marathon. Next song starts. Estimated end time- July 2013. It sounds similar to their last song. This guitarist is amazing, he needs some recognition! The crowd is still acting like zombies but after the last song, I'm kind of a zombie right now. This song wasn't an eternity this time. These guys don't entertain the audience with silly things like song titles or the name of their band, they just keep going. I'm absolutely astounded by the absolute lack of crowd interaction by these guys. It shows the difference between the younger bands and the more seasoned bands. Either way, this song is pretty good and these guys maintain the mainly chilled vibe their music gives off. The lead screamed again. He needs to stop. The song would be better if he blew a rape whistle mid song instead of screaming. This was the last song and that's the ball game!
Overall these guys have a good sound. The guitarist blew me away with his style. The drummer and bassist did their contributions as well but the guitarist stole the show. The lead needs to keep working on his craft and stop screaming. The screaming doesn't really fit with what the rest of the band members are doing. That and the screaming isn't good at all. My biggest problem with these guys is that they didn't interact with the audience at all. It feels like they would perform the same if they were in their garage or headlining a show at Madison Square Garden. All steak, no sizzle and that burns the crap out of your steak when you're cooking it.
Place so far in competition- 4th
The first ARC Battle this year in my eyes was well done. The Crossman bros. put on a great event at the Schwaben Club and I recommend that everyone check out the other ARC Battles this year every friday at 7pm here on out! Also, if you show up, please get into the music and have a good time. We need to drown out the families people!
Victors Final Overall Rankings
1st- Malignant Theory
2nd- Split The Skye
3rd- Whoever the 2nd band was
4th- Whoever the last band was
5th- Whoever the first band was
Victor Bast
I've heard of the last two, the first three are a mystery to me.
So basically what I've done for the inaugural ARC Battle of the year is I wrote down my thoughts as the event was going on. Not only about the performances but also my usual insane thoughts. Think of it as a psuedo-live blog. So without further adieu, here is everything I wrote down from my adventure yesterday.
5:30pm- Getting ready to head out to grab something to eat before hitting up the ARC Battle. Honestly, I'm pretty stoked for this event. The past couple years I haven't been able to check any of the battles out due to an incredibly hectic schedule but this year I can and it is the perfect time to go out and not only see this show and make it my first local promotion but also to catch up with one of the dudes running it, Cory Crossman (Myself and Cory went to Jr. High and High School together and I used to keep in touch a bit back when I was doing the internet radio schtick. Got some shirts made by him on several occasions and they were awesome.). Figure that before the show, I'll go to Bobby O'Briens downtown and grab some eats before heading to the show. You have no idea how excited I am for this!
6:45pm- Just leaving Bobby O'Briens and on my way to the show. Have to say, the Spicy Cajun burger is amazing there. I recommend it to everyone. Would've been perfect if not for the guys beside me at the bar talking about golf the entire time I was there. Seriously, nobody needs to talk about golf for over a half hour and what kind of eight iron gets better lift on the 12th hole at Mary Hill. Not big on golf at all. Good thing Bobby O's always plays good music. Anytime you walk in and hear Offsprings Come Out and Play, you're going to have a good time.
7:00pm- Apparently I could've taken my time at Bobby O's. Got there at seven and the security guy wasn't letting people in. Hopefully this doesn't last too long because it's freezing out here and I'm a retard for wearing a short sleeve dress shirt under my coat. Not the smartest move.
7:06pm- Didn't take long at all, luckily. Get in, pay my $10 ticket charge and who's the first person I see? Cory Crossman, my old high school classmate. We catch up on some things, I explain what exactly I'm trying to accomplish with Supportlocal and so on. He then gives me a local magazine and to contact the editor. Apparently she's looking for help. That's awesome on so many levels, going to capitalize on that for sure. He says the pre-ticket sales for today were kind of weak. Didn't seem too bad for the place just opening. I've been in far worse. So we go our seperate ways, I grab a drink and a seat and get ready for the show.
Around 7:30pm- So the first band is apparently playing. Not sure who they are exactly. I either missed their intro while grabbing a drink or they decided to not introduce themselves. They're a young group of guys, probably out of high school. These guys are doing the death metal gimmick going on so the lead is just screaming whatever he's screaming. The instrumentals are pretty solid. Great drum work by the drummer. The lead singer keeps screaming so it's hard to judge the quality of said screams. In the screaming genre, I've heard better screaming but it's not the worst I've ever heard. Probably not the best description for a review but it is what it is. The guitarist/backup singer needs to work on his vocals. Song ends and apparently they have no merch there because they're huge in Europe. At least they have a good sense of humour. They get a bonus point for that. Next song goes and I really wish I could understand what the screaming lyrics are. You can actually understand what some of the screaming is in some bands. These guys I have no clue. They could be singing about buying groceries from Costco as far as I know. Did the band just take a quick drink break mid song?!?! Seriously, that was a five second pause so the lead could sip his drink. Honestly, that's a huge negative for me. The lead singer looks winded as the song seems to be ending. Song ends and the lead says there's a few more songs. Is he going to survive that long? He looks like he's going to need an oxygen tank in the next couple of minutes. Also noticed that the lead points to his head a lot while screaming in every song. I'll give him points for energy but switch it up unless all your songs are about brain freeze. The drummer has been screaming along too, which is pretty cool in my eyes. One more song and apparently it's from their recently filmed music video. This song easily kills their other ones they played, very solid effort. These guys also get credit for showing energy during the instrumental solo in the song.
Overall these guys put up a solid effort but are still rough around the edges, which is expected from a young band. They showed good energy, even if sometimes it came off as a bit forced. The drummer was solid and energetic. Guitar/bass did their part but both looked a bit lethargic in the performance for the kind of music they're playing. Could be an inexperience thing. The lead singer was mostly screaming and has some work to do with the screaming. However the lead showed some stage presence and got into his music, which is essential when on stage performing heavy music. I liked their stage presence for the most part but if they didn't introduce themselves, they lose points. Unless you're a famous band, introduce yourself.
Place so far in competition- 1st
I'm not going to type down times until the end since I'm lazy. Next band is setting up and there's not too many people in here yet. While wandering around, I ran into another dude I went to high school with, Rick Wren. We shoot the poop for a bit, catch up and go our seperate ways. Small world we live in. The place is slowly filling up and the sound test is happening so I best be getting ready.
The second band doesn't introduce themselves. Seriously guys? They're also young. Like 15 year old young. The table ahead of me must be their family because they're cheering and consist of about four moms. Very weird to be at a battle and see peoples moms in mom clothing. It's like listening to good music at a grade school presentation of A Christmas Carol. They have a very chille sound that reminds me of Sublime. All the instrumentals seem off from a volume perspective. Drums and bass are noticeable but no sign of the guitar. The lead is doing a good job, needs to work on his range a bit. Then again, he might have just got his man voice so I can't be too critical. Wow, just realized that comment was a bit insulting. Wasn't intended to be, I swear! The crowd aka their family and friends loved it. Next song is called The Fig and apparently the leads dad wrote it. Don't think he was joking. The sound issues with the instrumentals seem to be fixed as there's a better harmony between the instruments. Pretty good song too. Next song, Favourite girl plays and it's good but very similar in sound to the last one. They get to the next song, 40 nights and it's about playing XBox. Seriously dude? Everyone knows that PS3 is far superior. Screw your XBox! Some random people just sat at my table and brought McDonalds. The dude across from me is eating McNuggets. Great, now I'm hungry. This song is, once again, familiar to the last one but it's not a bad thing. These kids have a good sound. The last song I found out is on iTunes, so I guess I can find out who these guys are when I write this report! (Victor Note- I checked and it's not there. Either I screwed up somehow or they did. Either or.) The next song is different and a cover of a song whose name escapes me. It's pretty good. The girl at the table I'm at seems to have forgotten how to eat her Big Mac. It was funnier than it's supposed to be. Don't think she was drunk by any stretch so I'm not sure what was up. The family of the band are dancing to their kids songs. This was so unintentionally funny to watch, you have no idea. This is like a bizarro show. Times are changing, that's for sure. The next song is a bit diferent from their other stuff but still very good. These guys just jumped into the pole position based on my unofficial ratings that have no relevance to anything. Some spazzy chick just ran to the table spouting off jibberish to the other people like a psychopath predicting the end of days and to repent your sins. I have no idea what she was saying, it was that bad. Someone keep her away from caffeinated products, stat! Aside from the spaz, the song was good. Calling your Name is next. The beginning is slow and it really doesn't suit their style at all. They pick it up and we're back on course. The Big Mac girl also is confused about eating fries because she tries to drink her fries from the McDonalds cardboard fry dealie. That or inhale them like a duck or something. This is already the most unintentionally funny show I've ever ben to. Aside from the opening, this song was also pretty good. Time's up for these dudes!
Overall I was impressed by these teenage almost mutant not quite ninja artists. They're very talented for their age and if they keep up with honing their craft, they could make some noise. Unfortunately, no matter how good you are, if you don't tell people who you are most people won't look into it. People are pretty lazy and if you're unknown, that Shazam app is pretty useless. Also I believe it's in the band code of conduct not to bring your parents that came from the suburbs in their suburban clothing wear and dance like suburban parents to your show. I'm glad they're supportive and you have no problem with it, it just looks weird. Then again, I think my generation is a bit different (Victor note- I'm 27. I'm talking like I'm 57. I feel old, I'm now going to mix me some Metamucil and watch a show about dogs wearing hats before TV Bingo).
Place so far in competition- 1st
For some reason, mic checks entertain me. The one guy is going to wear a devil horn tuque while doing his thing. That's awesome! I think these guys are going to be fun to watch. I go sit at a table with Rick, some of the judges and the ever wandering for pitchers of beer wonder known as Cory. I talk to one of the judges and we talk about the last band. He agrees that it's weird to see a suburban family cheer on a band at a show like they did. At least it's not just me.
People are crowding in for this one. This one is going heavy! Instrumentals are solid and there's more screaming. Luckily this guys screaming is better than the first bands. I'm absolutely stunned that nobody is moshing to these guys. I know if I wasn't playing reporter I'd be right in there. There's a photographer taking pics as they're doing their set, which is pretty cool. These guys are taking their craft seriously and are in it to win it. Love it. Finally, some moshing... by about five people... for about 20 seconds. These guys are great at doing extended solos, very good sound. I can't understand the lyrics because of the screaming but these guys do it well enough that the energy from the music is good enough to not care. This lack of moshing is partially depressing. Somebody give everyone some coffee, a kick to the groin, anything! The next song is dedicated to throat slashing! That is amazing on so many levels. I like these guys. The lead is pulling out a megaphone?!?! Super bonus points for that. Now there's three moshers representing. I guess three is better than none. While this band is going crazy, two more people I went to high school with show up. If I ever gave a crap about high school long enough to buy a yearbook, I'd bring it to something like this. Wait, no I wouldn't. Yearbooks are pointless now that Facebook is around. That's right, suck it Grand River Collegiate student faculty! (Victor note- No idea if that's what they're called. I'm too old to remember apparently) Back to the band, they're now in first by a country mile. Systematic waste is next and sadly, no dedication to mutilation. A kid that looks like a mini version of Carrot Top just walked by. No joke, it had to be his clone. Carrot Top Jr. asks his parents for money... at a battle... with heavy music blaring. This is bizarro world right now. This song was good and Level of Being is up next. Starts off with the deep growl scream noise. Those noises are awesome, wish I could do them. The lead is screaming so intensely that you can't understand what he's saying. He could be screaming about Curious George stealing The Man In The Yellow Hats wallet and nobody would know. Actually, some band should do that. Another bizarro moment- Watching a suburban mom take pictures of a band screaming. The band is seperating the crowd Braveheart style for this next song. Could we see some moshing? 1...2...3...Yep, there's finally some moshing, even if the band had to influence it. The band made people mosh, they get points for that. Even if it only lasted for a minute. When the crowd split up, just noticed that the drummer is female. I love me some female artists. Set ends and they are Malignant Theory and they want you to tie your shoes! (Victor note- Their words, not mine)
Overall, these guys killed it. Great presence, great sound, great energy and they have a good business sense. This will be one of my favourites going into the other rounds of competition.
Place so far in competition- 1st
This place has thinned out something fierce. Guess the cool kids bedtime is 10pm now. The next band is Split the Skye. Crowds a gathering for these guys during their nice instrumental set. They start their first song and it's a lot faster. It reminds me a bit of Killswitch Engage. Instrumentals are great, vocals are decent. The first two bands have nothing compared to the last two. It is probably more of an experience thing as the last two bands are older (probably about mid 20's for both) while the first two bands are clearly still in high school. The lead has a great scream when he does it. I'm stunned by the lack of crowd participation, these guys have a sound you want to at least head bang to. Not stand their nodding your head like your at a jazz festival. The Return is the next song and it's another great song for the zombie audience. The old drink lady at the bar looks like she wants to unload shotgun shells at everyone here. I'm keeping an eye on her, she scares me. The lead gives a shoutout to the other bands. Very classy move. Next song has a killer opening...that keeps going... and going... and going... and it's over. Great instrumentals but why do that at a battle? Very confusing move. The last song is actually a song that is a bit different than the others but still very good. During the song, mini Carrot Top keeps wondering around. Probably for props to do a horrible comedy sketch. Hopefully it is in front of his stuffed animals and not me. I'm already partially confused.
Overall, Split the Skye did an amazing job. Great sound, good energy and good presence. Just like Malignant Theory, they came to win and have the skills to put up a fight in this competition. I loved how they gave a shout out to the other bands. It was a very classy move by these guys. Sadly, in my rankings these guys are behind Malignant Theory mainly because Malignant Theory went all out in their performance. Split the Skye did an amazing job but didn't have the same presence Malignant Theory had. They're a close second.
Place so far in competition- 2nd
Last band seems to be doing their sound check with softcore porn jazz music. This keeps getting more and more unintentionally funny for me, I'm loving this. After the porn groove, these guys just start playing. No warning or anything, they just go at it. They have a neat sound, the guitarist is using more of a Carlos Santana style riff. The vocalist just screamed and he really shouldn't. He might have killed some local dogs with that scream. Mini Carrot Top is leaving with his mumsy. Either it's his bed time or he is performing at Yuk Yuks downtown (Victor Note- I really shouldn't be ripping on this kid and I'm sorry, it's just what I was thinking. Sorry if I offended you mini Carrot Top). The instrumentals are good but the lead needs to work on the vocals. He's not hitting notes at times and it comes off a bit awkward. Next song starts and it's just instrumentals... for about three minutes. The sound of this song is good but it feels like they're just seamlessly doing their entire set with no pauses. It's that long of a song, no joke. Love the work the guitarist is doing, you can groove to that beat easily. The song finally ends and I feel like I just ran a marathon. Next song starts. Estimated end time- July 2013. It sounds similar to their last song. This guitarist is amazing, he needs some recognition! The crowd is still acting like zombies but after the last song, I'm kind of a zombie right now. This song wasn't an eternity this time. These guys don't entertain the audience with silly things like song titles or the name of their band, they just keep going. I'm absolutely astounded by the absolute lack of crowd interaction by these guys. It shows the difference between the younger bands and the more seasoned bands. Either way, this song is pretty good and these guys maintain the mainly chilled vibe their music gives off. The lead screamed again. He needs to stop. The song would be better if he blew a rape whistle mid song instead of screaming. This was the last song and that's the ball game!
Overall these guys have a good sound. The guitarist blew me away with his style. The drummer and bassist did their contributions as well but the guitarist stole the show. The lead needs to keep working on his craft and stop screaming. The screaming doesn't really fit with what the rest of the band members are doing. That and the screaming isn't good at all. My biggest problem with these guys is that they didn't interact with the audience at all. It feels like they would perform the same if they were in their garage or headlining a show at Madison Square Garden. All steak, no sizzle and that burns the crap out of your steak when you're cooking it.
Place so far in competition- 4th
The first ARC Battle this year in my eyes was well done. The Crossman bros. put on a great event at the Schwaben Club and I recommend that everyone check out the other ARC Battles this year every friday at 7pm here on out! Also, if you show up, please get into the music and have a good time. We need to drown out the families people!
Victors Final Overall Rankings
1st- Malignant Theory
2nd- Split The Skye
3rd- Whoever the 2nd band was
4th- Whoever the last band was
5th- Whoever the first band was
Victor Bast
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