Battle Of Birdy’s: Week 7

With just three weeks left in the preliminary round, the Battle of Birdy’s is starting to heat up. Already, 12 bands have secured their spots and anxiously await their next time to battle.

However, before we get to that point, we have 6 more bands ready to put it all on the line for various cash, prizes, and the right to place themselves amongst the local scene elite. So without further ado, let’s get into Week 7:

After a quiet past few weeks, it’s refreshing to see the place buzzing with activity again. Some people have taken seats at some of the tables, the PBR is flowing at the bar, and I’m left trying to find a place to park elsewhere. After finding a space where I wouldn’t get towed and entering the building, I see that our first band has already taken the stage.

The Bleedingkeys are first up tonight. I’m a little familiar with their line of work, however that was a solo acoustic show featuring Jeremy Johnson. Needless to say, I’m interested in seeing what they can do with a full band, and now the wait is over.

Blending elements of pop and rock n’ roll, the Bleedingkeys kick things off on a high note. They bring a catchy, up-tempo, high-energy performance that you couldn’t help but to move along to. Even a few from the crowd have risen from their seats to dance. All the while, each member looks like they’re having the time of their lives up on that stage, and in the end, that’s the most important thing. That feeling is infectious, and on that note, we’re off to a great start.

Nothing against past weeks, but it just has a different feel tonight. There’s just a level of excitement that hasn’t been felt in a while. More people are filing in, some of the bands take time to greet one another, and it feels like everyone is on the same page. In the end, that makes for another fun night, and we’re only one act in! Let’s see if we can keep this going.

From the light and catching Bleedingkeys we go straight into our next act, who seem to take their cue from the heavier end of the spectrum.

Hailing all the way from Fort Wayne, Message In Blood is our next act, and they brought with them a fury of hair, headbanging, chugging guitars, grooves and the kind of riffs that Zakk Wylde and Dave Mustaine would be proud of. They even break out a cover of Metallica’s “Seek & Destroy.” The only drawback would be that they seemed to be a little too excited during some of their songs, but you only notice it for a brief second. It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve seen a pure metal act take the stage, and it’s a very welcome change of pace.

Two acts in and Birdy’s is rocking. While our next band sets up, it’s time for a drink, or for a bit of fresh air out on the patio. It’s a nice night out. Might as well take advantage of it (there might not be too many of those left this year!…).

The energy is still pretty high here, and it’s time for band #3 to take the stage. Let’s welcome Jeff Byrd and the Byrd House Sound.

After a brief walk on the heavy side, it’s time to bring it back down with some rock n’ roll, but what they lack in brutality they make up for with some of the most musically tight performances of the evening. Jeff’s guitar comes unplugged for a second, but it’s only a slight mishap, and he recovers nicely.

There were even a few instances where he claimed he was trying to “buy votes” and tell jokes in between songs. Okay, so maybe they don’t take themselves too seriously, but this is a band that’s in complete control of everything, and having the time of their lives while doing so. Is that enough to move on? We’ll find out. After all, we’re only halfway there…

This may only be our fourth band of the evening, but it’s time to say farewell. By that, I mean it’s time to say hello to the guys from The Farewell Audition. I saw them perform in this very spot almost a year ago, and I was impressed by their stage presence, their high-energy live show, and their attention to detail. Needless to say, I’m very excited to see what they can do this time around, and I’m not the only one, as for the first time tonight, a crowd has gathered in front of the stage to show their support.

But enough talk. Let’s see what they can do this time around.

For those that don’t know, The Farewell Audition’s sound is not unlike some of the pop-punk/alternative bands that you commonly see every year on the Warped Tour. While you may not see many bands like this take to the Birdy’s stage, they deliver a 25-minute set full of all the catchy hooks, dance-along moments and that “throw caution to the wind” attitude that seems exactly like it belongs on the aforementioned tour. They even break out a trumpet for a moment. It was like they could do no wrong, except for when the microphone came unplugged for a second, but as we all know, that’s fixable.

Meanwhile, the crowd is eating everything up. Actually, judging by their stage presence, it felt like they were just showing off by that point. It’s like they know they’re that good. Things could get interesting if they end up moving on.

So we’ve seen four rock bands by this point, so now it’s time to switch gears and take a walk on the hip-hop side. A crowd is still gathered by the stage, and judging by how many people have started coming in recently, these guys have the most supporters, and in a battle like this, that can make all the difference in the world.

Radamez and the Experience are up next. As mentioned earlier, this is a band that blends more funk and hip-hop influences to create a very catchy and fun experience. They unleash the kind of break-neck rhymes and energy to help bring a new dimension to “rock n’ roll’s nesting grounds.” While it might not have been enough to transform it into the hottest club outside of Broad Ripple, they do ensure that everyone here is having a good time. Will this be enough though? We’ll know soon enough.

But before we get to that part, we have just one more band to go, and it’s one that has been a staple of the Battle of Birdy’s for a few years now. Their crowd has moved towards the stage, and earlier, I saw the fake dog being taken in the building.

So let’s welcome our final act of the evening: Midwest State of Mind.

In the three years I’ve been covering this, I’ve always been impressed with their versatility, as well as their overall ability to put on an entertaining show. This time around, it’s no different.

It might be the end of the evening, but they make sure that everyone is as lively as ever, encouraging crowd participation and even taking a few moments to join their audience on the floor.

How engaging are they? They even prompt one woman to dance with glow sticks. Think of it as a form of fire dancing, but more indoor-friendly (also, we’re surrounded by alcohol). After a fun and dance-filled set, they exit the stage to the adoration of the bar.

Our six bands have done their part, and now it’s time for us to do ours. Last call for voting, and many are frantically entering in their three choices and placing them into the ballot box. Since we’re dealing with a much busier night, it is a longer wait, but that’s a very small price to pay. Some head out to the patio for a bit of air, while others enjoy their drinks inside while conversing with others.

As I stated earlier, everything this week just seemed to click, and I’m a little sad to see it end, but we must move on, and plus, we’ll be back next week. After what felt like an eternity waiting, the votes have been tallied and they’re ready to announce this week’s winners.

Much like Week 1, results were described as “stupid close” by host Benjamin Cannon. It may have taken a while to count and re-count, but now we know. Moving on to Round 2 is:

2nd: Bleedingkeys
1st: The Farewell Audition

7 weeks down, 14 bands are in, and just 4 more spots left. It’ll be one wild ride as we get closer and closer to the second round. On that note, there’s only one thing left to say about that:

Bring it on. See you all next week.