Emergenza has and always will help up-coming bands play in great venues but this, ladies and gentleman is a chance of a life-time. Three bands from the first semi final have already been chosen and they are USUAL SUSPECTS a 4 piece rock band of seasoned players with a killer lead guitarist. They went through. GO MASON GO were second through. A young five piece with great ideas. Mixing pop sounds and progressive like arrangements they had the energy and the goods. CUERVO was the band with most votes and despite their very Mexican name they actually have a very american sound. A delicate voice fronts this super technical rock band with amazing guitar sounds and a full throbbing bass. The second of the semi finals in Sydney saw 2 bands get through and they were SHADOWS AT PLAY and NIGHTSAFE.The latter was had more of a country, folk sound and it was very pleasant and refreshing.
At this point we were half way there so the following night, Thursday 11th, saw the 3rd of gigs. AURIBUS a strong funky rock band with a great singer. CASCADE: now here's a band with the lot...they have the rock songs which are commercial enough and their playing is second to none. The very strong, imposing singer displayed vocals that some of the best rock singers would only dream about having... They went through. Their song «Circles» in my opinion is a hit and people should keep their ears open for this group because they have the goods. The evening was won hands down by JUSTINE WAHLINE who not only showed us that strong melodies and sweet songs can win over the crowd but she proved that an acoustic guitar, a great voice and simplicity in the arrangements are still the right elements for a winning combination.
The last night (Friday 12th) saw THROW CATCH get first. These boys play a sort of old school rock reminiscent of eighties style singing. RATTLESNAKE qualified slightly above and these four guys were also an old school rock and roll band and a very technical one at that. The night's winners and last qualifiers for the final were BLUE CANDY. Totally different from all the others. They were in fact a musical explosion of sounds. A latin american group which was so much fun to watch and listen to that all the punters in the room were spellbound. The crowd were dancing to the rhythm and the wonderful sound of the brass mixed with samba playing piano. Congratulations to these 11 bands that made it the final at the Metro.
The final, which will be on the 15th of December, will have a mixture of judges and public vote as well as many prizes for the best musicians. Watch out then, because any of these bands can represent Australia in germany next year at the international festival. For now all you readers have to do is go out and get a ticket to the final!
TUESDAY 9th OCTOBER 2012 | |
Cuervo | 108 |
Go mason Go | 98 |
Usual suspetcts | 80 |
Founded in 1908 | 56 |
Nova & the experence | 41 |
KAATO | 40 |
Feedback | 37 |
Missing Myrtle | 32 |
WEDNESDAY 10th OCTOBER 2012 | |
Nightsafe | 63 |
shadows at play | 56 |
Chub | 40 |
Parenthia | 29 |
The Trobes | 19 |
Release the Hounds | 17 |
fresh new look (canc) | RET |
THURSDAY 11th OCTOBER 2012 | |
justine wahline | 119 |
cascade | 101 |
Auribus | 69 |
Halfway homebuoy | 48 |
Tiger & the Rogues | 43 |
Burning blue sky | 36 |
Paratopia | 22 |
DryDock | 21 |
FRIDAY 12th OCTOBER 2012 | |
Blue candy | 163 |
Rattlesnake | 82 |
Throw Catch | 82 |
Gutter tactic | 64 |
Red Oxygen | 41 |
Patriarchs | 29 |
Bangaly (canc) | RET |