2008 Woodie Awards
Fayetteville bands battle to become UA champion
Brian Washburn
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Life & Style
The Union Ballroom will be rocking at 8 p.m. tonight for the Battle of the Bands. The concert, hosted by the University Programs, is part of Hogfest Friday Night Live and admission is free to all, said Grant Spencer, the UP concerts committee chair who organized the event with Liz Hughes.
The three top bands will receive gift cards to Saied Music Company in the amounts of $400, $200 and $100. The winners will also receive an assortment of gifts from the sponsors, including a video production package courtesy of Fayetteville's own Imagine Film Company, Spencer said.
There will also be a prize of the fan favorite, who will be voted on by Friday night's audience, he said.
Although the line-up schedule has not yet been confirmed, the six bands who will perform are The Darksuits, Apartment 5, Sirhan Sirhan, Memphis Pencils VII, Ben Rector, and Jarris.
The Darksuits formed in the wake of a bitter breakup and came together sharing passions for progressive rock and crackly vinyl, according to the band's biography. Complete with an energetic live show and business attire, The Darksuits are all about craft, with their melodies - shoe-gaze guitars, playful keyboards and tight rhythm section. However, when asked what sets the band apart, The Darksuits gave their six P's for success: "poise, pomp, personality, persistence, person-ablity, and patriotism," according to the biography.
Apartment 5 is a group of best friends from high school who make alternative indie rock. They are influenced by the Strokes, Incubus, Radiohead, and Modest Mouse, according the band's biography. Apartment 5 will record a full-length album this summer and will embark on a tour.
Sirhan Sirhan was formed during last year's Battle of the Bands when metal band Everest performed. Viewer Andrew McDougal convinced Everest drummer Drew Wallis to join in his quest to form a band. This quest includes "a god of rhythm and shredder of chords this town hath never seen," according to the band's biography.
Memphis Pencils VII formed more than a year ago and has already had two successful Arkansas and neighboring state tours. Memphis Pencils VII describe their sound as quirky pop with some satire, catchy melodies and original structure, according to their biography.
Ben Rector, the 2006 Battle of the Bands winner, is a popular artist here at the UA and even won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2006, Spencer said.
"Rector keeps a busy tour schedule and also released his album, Twenty Tomorrow, last year," he said.
Jarris is a five-piece pop rock band who "stays true to their melodic influences by mixing a big rock sound with powerful vocals," according to the band's MySpace page. Their debut EP, All the Lonely Girls, is available now on iTunes and Napster Rhapsody.
Although all six bands look to rock the house and woo the crowd tonight at the Union Ballroom, only one thing is certain. There can be only one 2008 Battle of the Bands champion.
The three top bands will receive gift cards to Saied Music Company in the amounts of $400, $200 and $100. The winners will also receive an assortment of gifts from the sponsors, including a video production package courtesy of Fayetteville's own Imagine Film Company, Spencer said.
There will also be a prize of the fan favorite, who will be voted on by Friday night's audience, he said.
Although the line-up schedule has not yet been confirmed, the six bands who will perform are The Darksuits, Apartment 5, Sirhan Sirhan, Memphis Pencils VII, Ben Rector, and Jarris.
The Darksuits formed in the wake of a bitter breakup and came together sharing passions for progressive rock and crackly vinyl, according to the band's biography. Complete with an energetic live show and business attire, The Darksuits are all about craft, with their melodies - shoe-gaze guitars, playful keyboards and tight rhythm section. However, when asked what sets the band apart, The Darksuits gave their six P's for success: "poise, pomp, personality, persistence, person-ablity, and patriotism," according to the biography.
Apartment 5 is a group of best friends from high school who make alternative indie rock. They are influenced by the Strokes, Incubus, Radiohead, and Modest Mouse, according the band's biography. Apartment 5 will record a full-length album this summer and will embark on a tour.
Sirhan Sirhan was formed during last year's Battle of the Bands when metal band Everest performed. Viewer Andrew McDougal convinced Everest drummer Drew Wallis to join in his quest to form a band. This quest includes "a god of rhythm and shredder of chords this town hath never seen," according to the band's biography.
Memphis Pencils VII formed more than a year ago and has already had two successful Arkansas and neighboring state tours. Memphis Pencils VII describe their sound as quirky pop with some satire, catchy melodies and original structure, according to their biography.
Ben Rector, the 2006 Battle of the Bands winner, is a popular artist here at the UA and even won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2006, Spencer said.
"Rector keeps a busy tour schedule and also released his album, Twenty Tomorrow, last year," he said.
Jarris is a five-piece pop rock band who "stays true to their melodic influences by mixing a big rock sound with powerful vocals," according to the band's MySpace page. Their debut EP, All the Lonely Girls, is available now on iTunes and Napster Rhapsody.
Although all six bands look to rock the house and woo the crowd tonight at the Union Ballroom, only one thing is certain. There can be only one 2008 Battle of the Bands champion.
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