Battle Of Birdy’s 2013: Week 2

Battle Of Birdy’s: Week 2 @ Birdy’s Bar & Grill, Indianapolis on August 9th, 2013

Night 1 kicked things off with a band, and when the dust settled, two bands now sit in waiting for the next round. Meanwhile, six more are primed and ready for their chance to shine.

Welcome to Night 2.

The Battle of Birdy’s resumed action last Friday night, where once again, some of the local Indy scene’s finest will give it their all to prove that they belong at the top of the mountain, and while each is worthy in their own way, only two more will move on.

For those who aren’t familiar with the rules, here’s a quick rundown: each band gets 25 minutes to perform. From there, their fate is decided by audience and judge voting (but more so fans than judges). Points are awarded based on how everyone voted, and whoever earns the most and second-most points at the end of the night lives to fight another day.

Now without further ado, let’s get this started. The hellos have been said, those in attendance have taken their seats, and polite chatter can be heard amongst some. After introducing our first performer, it’s time to battle:

For Night 2, we’re kicking things off with a soloist named Tim Mestrich. Actually, the term “one-man band” could probably be used to describe him more accurately, as he made good use of his effects board, looping and changing some of the effects to get the sound he wants. Sounds a little busy and maybe even bordering on someone doing too much, but for what it’s worth, he handles it all in stride, he looks completely at ease, and of course, he looks like he genuinely loves what he does. All the while, his fans are loving every second. So much so that they demand an encore when his 25 minutes are up, but of course, we have to move on. All in all, not a band way to kick things off.

While act #2 sets up, Tim returns to his table to light applause from his fans. Elsewhere, all seems quiet on the Northside front. Night 2 so far has a decent attendance. Not busy but not dead, and plenty going on. A few more start filing in, as is the case in most bars when it gets past the 9:00 mark.

The sun has set, but the fun is just beginning. On that note, let’s move on to the next performer.

The Fusebox Affair is the next band to take the stage. In contrast to the lighter, softer approach of our first performer, they’re a rock band through and through. A very tight, gritty rock n’ roll band that sort of brings back memories of the mid-90s era of the genre. What worked most for this band? It was their diversity. They knew how to bring the rock, but they also knew how to bring it back down, a trait they definitely used to the delight of those who were inside to see them. They came, they saw, one of them dropped their guitars with authority as soon as the set ended.

It’s a beautiful night outside, and many have taken note as a decent number spend much of their time on the patio. Also, the temperature is rising a little more by the minute inside. Nothing terrible, just enough to want to stand outside for a few moments.

But not for too long, as the guys in Audiodacity start setting up and warming up (they do utilize trumpets and saxophones, after all). Battle showrunner Benjamin Cannon toasts the crowd to another great night, and act #3 has now begun.

I’m very familiar with the guys in Audiodacity, having covered this last year and watched them take it all the way to the finals, and I’m sure they would like a repeat performance, with a slightly better result no less.

To those who have never seen them before, they consist of six guys that blend a little funk, a little rock, a little hip-hop, and a whole lot of fun, and tonight was no different. This is the kind of band that instantly grabs your attention and never lets go until the final note rings out. More importantly, they all have a good time doing it, and they make damn sure that everyone who goes to see them feels the same way. By the looks of it, they’ve accomplished that as a crowd has gathered by the stage, and two of them have taken to dancing along. Overall, never a dull moment when they perform.

We’re now halfway there, and because of the format, all of these bands are living on a prayer. Of course, we won’t know until later what happens. Is there a clear frontrunner? Are we in for another photo finish? Who knows? Besides, we still have a few more acts to go. Back to the music for now.

The dust has settled, many have retreated to the patio, and our next band is getting ready to take the stage.

The Young Years is next, and we’re having a little bit of audio difficulty in the beginning. Of course, this is eventually resolved and they can focus on what they do best, which is, bringing the rock.

Though unlike others who have performed tonight, this band is more ambient and atmospheric. What sticks out most about this band is how in-tune to their craft they appear to be. They don’t spend their time trying to sound like everyone else, they don’t talk to the crowd a whole lot, and they certainly don’t want to rely on a gimmick to get ahead. Just play the music and let it speak for itself. Oh yeah, and just have a great time while doing so. Judging by how much energy they put into it, it’s hard not to get into it.

Now comes the fifth band…or so we thought.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, act #5 had to bow out, and because each slot is effectively set into stone, we get a nice long break from the action. Some order more drinks from the bar (PBR and Cuervo are on special), some head to the patio, some converse inside, while I work on beating my Tetris high score. It’s a lengthy wait, and in the meantime, the house drum set has been packed away. I’m starting to wonder why, as well as why a separate CD player has been brought out. The answers come soon enough.

In keeping up with the eclectic nature of the Battle of Birdy’s, our final act is not a band or a solo artist, but rather, a pop/hip-hop duo called Miss World Wide and Knowledge.

As for their performance, it’s a nice change of pace, as their back-and-forth 25-minute set feels more like storytelling than a standalone performance. Brief moments of talking to the crowd are interwoven between Miss World Wide’s soulful vocals and Knowledge’s hip-hop delivery. It’s a nice balance, and they seem to have a good chemistry. Would it be enough to carry them into the next round? We’ll wait and see.

The night is over. Final votes are being tallied and we’re back to playing the waiting game once again. Polite conversation can be heard, many head back outside for a moment, while the rest check out some of the preseason highlights on SportsCenter. It’s been a fun night once again. Maybe it wasn’t as busy or as lively as the previous week in terms of the crowd, but the bands definitely brought it for another impressive local showcase.

But of course, only two can move on to the next round. As the final vote is tallied, it’s time to announce our winners.

The crowd heads back inside, and Mr. Cannon once again thanks everyone for their participation before announcing what everyone wants to hear.

Moving on to Round 2 is…

2nd: Tim Mestrich (232)
1st: Audiodacity (340)

After a few perfunctory pleasantries are exchanged, the second night is in the books. Two weeks are down, and we’re inching closer to seeing who’s #1 in the Indy scene for 2013. Next week, six more bands will take the stage to show what they’ve got, but as always, your votes go a long way towards determining the winner.

So I guess the only question left to ask is: whose side are you on?

See you all next week.