Pixy 103’s Cape ’s Most Dangerous Band Contest, Version 2007
By Finn Maguire, SouthShoreMuse.com writer
finn@southshoremuse.com
Flashback to April, 2006. It's the finals of the Cape 's Most Dangerous Band competition and one of the bands is missing its singer. More accurately, that band has fired its singer.
Thus begins one local rocker's year-long journey, from rejection to redemption.
April showers brings ROCK N ROLL!
The Cape ’s Most Dangerous Band contest has become a rite of spring for musicians in the SoSho/Cape area. Pixy 103 continues their long-standing support of the local music scene by organizing the CMDB showcase as a way for local cover bands to pit their musicality, stage presence, and audience appeal, against other bands. In the process, the bands get some nice free publicity, and the chance to win a slew of prizes from generous local businesses. Host Sundancers, a magnet for fair-weather partying, opens the party season early, providing a jolt not only to the local music scene, but also to their off-peak food and bar business.
So it’s a win-win for local bands and for local business. However, it is a battle, and there can only be one ultimate winner. And since every band thinks their band is the greatest band of all bandkind, the competition can be fierce.
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Beer
There are, of course, certain realities that bands should thicken their skin to when entering any contest, and the CMDB contest is no exception.
First, since it is a judged event, there is a degree of subjectivity involved. Pixy 103 is the definitive hard rockin’ station, so no matter how proficient your ukulele playing may be, you should probably keep your Tiny Tim covers under wraps for this contest. Most bands realize this, and would likely not be a successful local cover band in the first place if their repertoire included songs that could put the most hyperactive person to sleep.
Assuming your band is due to play a perfect show (of course you are!), there is another factor that bands must consider: getting their fans there on time, and making sure they are ready to rock. No matter how well a band plays, their audience appeal factor will take a hit if their fans are waiting in line in the parking lot while the band is on stage.
The order the bands play in means a lot less than you might think. 57 Heavy won the CMDB contest a few years ago from the first slot, and Vaporkiss came a whisker away last year. In fact, in the past 4 years, the winning bands came from four different slots (1, 3, 4, 5). The bottom line is that no matter what slot a band draws, they better make sure their fans get there early and bring the bedlam like they’re watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show (for our younger readers – Ed Sullivan hosted a weekly variety show back in the 60’s, and when the Beatles were on there, the crowd went berserk – to the point that several young ladies actually had their heads explode on live television).
The Gauntlet is Thrown
On to the battle we go. Pixy’s “Rockbabe” Suzanne Tonaire, Cape Cod ’s most recognizable radio personality and local music’s greatest supporter, once again presides over the festivities. She promises a night of rock ‘n roll, and every band is ready to deliver on that promise, as is soundman Ken Wade and his awesome new speaker system.
First up on this Friday the 13th finale is Seven. They immediately pack the dance floor with a fist-pumping version of "Stroke Me", then kick things up a couple notches with White Zombie and Rage Against The Machine. They are tight, their stage volume is spot-on, and the singer's vocals are mixed with just the right amount of volume and effects. When they kick into Buckcherry's "Crazy B-tch" they are really hitting stride. They nail the harmonies and even blend in a little Zeppelin-esque guitar shredding that induces the first full-crowd-pogo of the night. The Toadies' Possum Kingdom is up next, and they build the song up to a crescendo that has the crowd jumping and stomping, and me wondering if the floor can handle it. They finish off with a crowd-pleasing rendition of Killing in the Name (Rage). They receive a well-deserved and prolonged chorus of appreciative screams at the end of their set. Seven are a hard rockin' band with charisma, talent, and energy to burn. They set the bar high for the night and serve notice to the rest of the bands that they had better bring their A game.
28 then takes the stage and answers that challenge with a medley of Eminem, The Who, and Skynrd. An acoustic guitar in the mix gives them a very different sound, and the dance floor, which cleared out during the break between bands, now has a steady stream returning. The lead guitarist wails through the end of the medley, and the crowd responds in kind. James' "Laid" is next, and as the singer whips out his falsetto, the crowd joins in for the sing-along. On to the first "Love that Muddy Water" of the night, and as if on cue, the 42" plasma tv shows highlights of Papelbon mowing down Vlad Guererro to save the Bosox yet again. 28 then covers one of 311's deeper-cut hits, showing off a little more range to their musicality -- but the crowd ain't seen nothin' yet. The lead guitarist takes over for bass as the bass player comes to the forefront with a fiddle. Fire flows from his fingertips as the band rips into "Devil Went Down to Georgia " and a square-dance pit breaks out on the dance floor. They finish off with a crowd-pleasing version of DMB's "Ants Marching". 28 isn't afraid to pull out a surprise or two, and in the process, they pull the crowd in and don't let go.
Apparently Flydown's fans got the "get there early" memo. There's a long line at the door, but it doesn't appear that any of Flydown's fans are in it, as the dance floor is packed before they even get on stage. They shake the rafters by opening with "Shook Me All Night Long", and it's clear that they are in this contest to win it. Buckcherry's "Crazy B-tch" follows, and while the whole crowd sings the chorus, a couple of young ladies can't help but join the excitement on stage. Next up is cover band staple "Own Worst Enemy", and the crowd is so loud at the end that even their guitarist, local legend Mike Visconti, is seen plugging his ears. Flydown then rolls into "Pour Some Sugar On Me", a big favorite for the females in the crowd. They finish off with "Sweet Child O Mine" and "Don't Stop Believin" -- singing Axl and Steve Perry one after another is pretty gutsy for anyone, and singer Brian Kerins pulls it off. Again, the roar of the crowd is almost unbearable as chants of "Flydown" fill the club. Flydown are an "in your face!" hard rock outfit, but they do it with a charisma and appeal that is hard to resist.
Flydown are a tough act to follow, but Cape rockers The Grab Brothers are up for the challenge. They kick in with another cover band staple and crowd favorite Petty's "American Girl". They put a twist on it with an extended jam at the end, showin' off some smokin' chops while still keeping the driving beat intact. "You're All I Got Tonight" has the crowd singing along and leads up to the one and only original all night, "All The Same". A groovy mix of rock and soul, a touch of rap, and a rippin' metal guitar solo somehow all come together perfectly in this tune. The Grab Bros. then do their own Journey cover and break out the flute to finish their set with a song they're known for - Tull's "Locomotive Breath". The Grab Bros are a talented and fun band that do songs most other bands wouldn't, or more likely, couldn’t. It's easy to see how they've achieved a devoted following on the Cape .
Clubba Lang pities the fool who isn't ready for their rockin' set, and there were few fools in the crowd tonight. As they burst into the Social D version of "Ring of Fire", their fans push to the front of the dance floor. The band responds and pushes to the front of the stage. Game on! They finish off "Ring" with a touch of "LA Woman" and get a huge ovation from the crowd. Foo Fighters are up next, and it's clear that this is going to be a high octane set. They hardly catch their breath before launching into their version of "Muddy Water". A Dropkick Murphy's tune has the crowd back up on their pogo sticks, and the band almost seems surprised at the mayhem they are inspiring. The frenzy continues with "Dancing with Myself". As the opening riffs of "Dirty Deeds" begin, the crowd joins the band in an "Oi!" chant. This set was pure energy, and capped off the night perfectly. Clubba Lang makes the songs their own and play them as if they wrote them. They haven't been together for too long, but with shows like this, it's a good bet that they'll be rocking the club scene for a while to come.
The bands have left it all on the stage. All five bands had an angle - something that set them apart from the other bands. They played to their strengths and left a bar full of happy music fans in their wake. Their contest fates are now in the hands of the judges.
Owning the Night
The judges are local music industry veterans, involved in everything from playing in bands, to booking, doing sound, recording/production, and so on. They each have many years of experience, they know their stuff, and each take their role in the contest seriously.
Soon after the last note has been played, the judges gather in the back office to discuss the bands in a thoughtful and analytical manner that sharply contrasts with the pandemonium on the club floor a few feet away. They carried no preconceived notions into the club at the beginning of the night, and now use the voting criteria to determine how bands scored in each of the categories, and which band was able to put together the most consistent, top-to-bottom performance. Each band contributed to what the judges called a “very strong night”, and the judges’ task is to agree on which band, in their words, "stepped it up a notch...who owned the room...who owned the night?"
After a few minutes of debate and deliberation, the judges reach a decision and announce to Suzanne who the winning band is. It is her job to break the news to the bands and their fans. In years past there have been some instances of bad feelings as a result of the judging, but on this night, all the bands seem supportive of each other and satisfied that they each gave it their best shot: As Suzanne says when she takes the stage to announce the winner, “every band shined tonight.”
“I’ve Come Full Circle ”
“The winner of the Cape ’s Most Dangerous Band Contest for 2007 is...FLYDOWN!”
The words barely leave Suzanne’s mouth before the band mobs her on stage. The members gather and share an embrace, but there is more to this moment than just the joy of winning the contest: It has been a more tumultuous year for one of the band’s members than most fans know. The look of relief and disbelief on singer Brian Kerins’ face begins to tell the story of band members that met last year as competitors in this contest, and stand together tonight as winners.
He describes Flydown coming together as “serendipitous”, but it’s more likely a result of persistence paying off...providing him with this winning moment...one he calls the “highlight of his music career.”
On stage, Kerins is singer, bassist, crowd conductor, and one man wrecking crew. Of all the performers tonight, he seemed to want this win the most. And who can blame him? Being let go by his band shortly before last year’s final was a tough pill to swallow, but the Cape native worked hard to get back here, and that hard work paid off.
In summing up the past year, he unknowingly slips back into frontman mode and paraphrases Tool’s Maynard James Keenan: “I’ve come full circle.”
|
