My Battle of the Bands: Round One

When musicians hear "Battle of the Bands," they universally either cheer or groan. All throughout May, bands (and fans) will hopefully be cheering for Rena Sinakin Productions and Mike Tarsia Recording's sponsored battle for charity, Music-a-live! Philly.

Now I don't write fluff pieces, even on myself, so here's the brutal honesty: I'm not 100% sure that this battle of the bands is quite as high-profile as it wanted to be, and I wouldn't mind seeing younger judges or more qualified judges–heck, I'd like to get a judging panel where I don't know one or more of them, too.

Beggars, however, cannot be choosers. I am begging for a shot at getting enough groundswell for my EP (still recording, still untitled) to tour with it and see some profit. Maybe make a play for bigger and better things.

This past Tuesday, a respectable crowd gathered at The Legendary Dobbs to witness the first elimination round. Fourteen bands were hand-picked to compete for an enviable prize package that includes recording and some meet-and-greets with Philadelphia music "heavies" of varying degree. Along the way, a slew of musicians and producers sit in judgment and offer constructive criticism to each band. In the first week, five bands were to be eliminated.

The bands: April Mae & the June Bugs, Ang & the Damn Band, Black Horse Motel, Bride Dressed In Black, Dear Submarine, Done@21, Justin McNatt Trio, LP Stiles,  Modzilla, Sexoffice, Sherlock Rock, Stephen DiJoseph, Sylvia Platypus, and of course, The Michael Chance Band, my own project.

While I wasn't on stage, I was in front of it, soaking up the atmosphere. The acts were intensely variable, everything from hip-hop (Bride Dressed in Black) to Blues/Rockabilly (April Mae and the June Bugs) to Gaga-reminiscent goth rock (Sylvia Platypus).

Some of the acts were more flash than substance, but on the whole, no one embarrassed themselves. For your average battle of the bands, that's the best you can expect. This competition raised the bar in terms of non-suck, though a few moderately strange (read: less-than-stellar) acts made it in.

From where I lurked in the crowd, the highlights of the evening were folksters Black Horse Motel, virtuoso instrumental crew LP Stiles, and the frontwoman of Bride Dressed in Black. Of course, from where I stood ON stage, I didn't do too badly, either.

On the judges panel this week, we had the show's organizers, Rena Sinakin and Mike Tarsia, joined by Solomon Silber of Wiseman Records, bassist Gary Van Scyoc, and Philadelphia studio owner and arranger/composer Kevin Walker.  Their critiques following each performance were usually direct and intelligent, focused on three categories: song quality, performance/musicianship, and stage presence.

After I finished my set, I waited on the stage, breathless, sweating from exertion, with the exhilaration that only comes from performance. Whether it's a living room or an arena, I get goosebumps just from doing it.

"Your songs are cohesive, really together, the most together we've heard tonight," said one judge. "If your band gets a little tighter, gels a little, you'll be fantastic."

I let on, after some prodding, that my outfit was new, that it was our first time on stage together. I didn't mind their comments–I was proud of my band, and the work we'd done, and the show we'd put on. I didn't mind being called imperfect. I almost didn't hear it. Do you know why?

Because one of them said I reminded him of Van Morrison. Of Bruce Springsteen.

And because, when he did, I thought to myself, "this is why I do it." To try to follow the examples of the troubadours and storytellers who changed my world and made me give up forever on being anything other than one of them.

In any case, West Deptford, I made it to round two. I'll update next week.

If you want to come out and support, show up:

304 South St
Philadelphia
7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10th.

Oh, and before I obnoxiously forget, we are raising money for public schools who are in danger of losing their music programs. Let's keep on that. Pay $10 at the door and know you supported a great cause. Bring a used instrument in any condition and Musicopia will repair it and donate it. Dobbs accepts donations between 3pm and 12am every day.

Let's remember that art defines a culture. We shouldn't let ours die or be oppressed by financial hardship. If we do, what will the future remember us for?