Within the confines of the 247 Sky Bar during the sixth week of the Acoustic Live Challenge, we saw a soloist with an acoustic bass, a laundry list of percussive instruments, a ukelele, one person who blended comedy with sincerity, suitcase drums, and more than enough original music to make you realize that our local music does not suck.
Put that all together and you’ve got the sixth night of the annual Acoustic Live Challenge.
It’s been a wild ride thus far, and already, 10 artists have claimed their spots in the semi-finals. While they sit back and prepare for the next phase of the competition, it’s time for 4 more to reach up and grab two of the remaining slots. Who will move on? Who will have to go to the bar to watch all the action? (No really, the ALC takes place in a bar). Anyway, let’s find out.
I’ve got tea in one hand (I skipped my coffee this morning), a pen in the other, and I’m joined by our other two judges. This week, it’s Lynzi Stringer from IndyMojo and Michelle Overton from Real Scene TV. As we take a few #AcousticLiveSelfies (Yes, I’m starting a hashtag in this review), our first act looks ready to go. Let’s get this thing started.
A person by the name of Rommi is first up. Armed with only an acoustic bass, he takes us all on a dark and somewhat personal journey (minus the mic check song). As strong as his lyrics are by themselves, the overall feel is enhanced by his bass, and though I was skeptical at first, he succeeds in creating a deep, bold sound with what he has. Even “Fred” the Sky Bar fog machine adds to the aesthetic. On the other side of it, he admit that he was nervous and that he hadn’t been doing it for too long. His vocals are a little muddled at times and his overall stage presence felt like someone who wasn’t comfortable performing in front of people, but when he started playing, he was right in his element. He might not be there yet, but he’s got some potential, and tonight, a few more people can see this.
From a soloist, we got straight into our next one: a trio led by Brad Kleinschmidt and his aptly-named “Crew” (credit to Rob Snodgrass).
Some trios just seem to click and have everything going for them, and that is definitely the case for Mr. Kleinschmidt and Co. As cliche as it is to say it sometimes, they just sound like a unit. Brad is energetic and his vocals have a wide range, his lead guitarist is very intent on showing everyone how good he is at guitar (a phrase I repeatedly say about my good friend Ken from Hero Jr), and their drummer breaks out everything but the kitchen sink, from the cajon to adding tambourines to his shoes. All of this results in a styles that’s not only easy-going, but each song has its own distinct identity and feel. He might have had some issues with getting a little too into it and pulled away from the microphone as a result, but as a trio, you want to be able to execute while you’re firing on all cylinders. This is exactly what we saw here.
At the beginning of the night, some of the other judges were a little intrigued by the fact that our next performer is using a suitcase for a drum. We later come to find out that this will be used by a duo known as The Dapper.
Before we get too far, I’ll preface these statements: Yes, I’ve known these guys for a few years now and I do consider them good friends of mine, and have even featured them on my podcast. Heck, I’ll even admit to singing along to some of their songs at the table. Regardless, I’m going to put all of this aside and remain as objective as I can, because as they told me before, this is what they would want. Plus, this is no different from usual.
For full shows, they generally use a normal kick drum, as well as a keyboard, a ukelele (and a ukelele bass), congas, loop pedals, and sometimes an actual bass guitar. For tonight (and because of someone’s rules…), we have just a suitcase drum, a ukelele, and an acoustic guitar. The end result was a more stripped-down version of their generally easy-going indie/folk blend. Dan’s ukelele keeps things upbeat while Aaron’s guitar and strong vocals push it forward. Despite only having a fraction of what they normally use, they’re still able to belt out enough tunes to keep everyone entertained. They can speed it up, they can slow it down, they can make it fun, and they can make it sincere. Aside from a few tempo hiccups, it’s the same Dapper I’ve come to know and admire.
We’ve reached the end of the night at last. As The Dapper packs up their stuff and leaves the stage, we see an older gentleman approach the microphone, 12-string guitar in hand. Now then, let’s welcome Eric Henning to the ALC.
At first, it looks like we’re going to be treated to a comedy set, performing a few songs that had several in the audience (and the rest of us at the judges’ table) laughing out loud. After two songs, there’s a shift from “sincerely funny” to just “sincere” as he delves into more personal songs that came straight from the heart. The tonal shift might have been a little weird, but he does it seamlessly. His performance feels like one cohesive story, so nothing seems too out of place. He can be funny, he can be serious, and he has the skill and the music to hold it all together. All in all, not a bad way to end things.
Performances are done, and though we only had 4 acts, there was no shortage of talent tonight. They all had their own identity and sound, and this feels like it could be a close one.
Attendees turn in their ballots and the votes are tallied. All the while, there’s polite chatter amongst the bar, some people get one last drink, and judging by some of the beats coming through the floor, it sounds like the party has already started on the second floor.
It looks like the results are in. Rob makes his way to the stage to thank everyone for coming out before announcing our winners, and more importantly, those who will be moving on to the semi-finals. Who will we see in a few weeks? It looks a little like this:
2nd: The Dapper
1st: Brad Kleinschmidt
And with that, Night 6 is in the books. The Sky Bar clears out and the equipment is packed away for another week. This night might be over, but the countdown to the next has already begun…
Only 4 spots remain, and next week, 5 more acts will have their chance to grab two of them. The first round is nearing completion, but we’re just getting started.
So in the words of the United States Men’s National Team, we must ask this: “are you ready?”
See you all next week.