Battle Of Birdy’s: Week 8

While 14 bands have secured their spots and now anxiously await their next performance in the Battle of Birdy’s, we still have two more weeks left in this first round. Tonight, we have six more groups anxious to show why they deserve to move on and compete for a myriad of prizes including bragging rights, studio time and spending cash, but like all weeks, only two of them can move on.

So without further ado, let’s just get into it:

To kick things off, we’ve got The Brave One, a solo acoustic performer. Now we’ve seen our share of artists like this throughout these past 8 weeks, and each has had their own unique characteristics. For this one, we’re treated to a very soulful, bare bones performance. He’s a guy that clearly put everything he had into it, and the crowd is very appreciative of it, even if a few of his friends came to heckle (it happens.). All in all, not a bad way to start things off.

It’s early, and it’s actually a decent-sized crowd for this hour. After the last performance, I’m anxious to see what this next person can do, even if it does look like he has a similar set up…

Ben Myers is our next performer, and for some reason, I can’t help but think that he looks like someone else I know (who oddly enough, used to host the Battle of Birdy’s).

But instead of being a former bassist in an alt-rock group, Myers is a solo acoustic artist, here to deliver his own stripped down blend of music. Unlike our first performer, he seems slightly calmer in both presentation and performance. As he states, he’s very lyrically driven, and lets the music speak for itself, which is not a bad thing. Though he does try to break it up a little with a cover of “Billie Jean.” Though some might argue acoustic is a little out of place in a battle of the bands, what’s more rock n’ roll than taking it back to its roots?

The sun has set on the city of Indianapolis, and when the darkness comes, the bizarre come out to play…

On that note, let’s welcome the guys in Bizarre Noir to the stage.

I saw these guys in the battle last year, and was impressed not only with their sound, but how much they put into their live show. They’re not content with just performing to the best of their ability. They want to give you something you’ll remember, something you can tell your friends about.

To my delight, they kept everything that made them great: the theatrics, the creepy vibes, the person in a horse mask that brought back memories of “See You On The Other Side” era Korn, and of course, an enigmatic performance that feels like a show. Their frontman is engaging, the crowd is ready and willing to do his bidding, and even a mosh pit breaks out for a few seconds. If they can do this now, just think about what could happen if they moved on…

Originally, we were set to have 7 bands perform for the first time all year, but a bad case of the flu knocked out our next band. Since each performer is locked into their set times, we get another lull in the action, providing enough time to grab some air on the patio or buy a drink from the bar or even check the score of the NLDS games on the TVs. I know the payoff will be great, but for now, I’ll continue to complain about my lack of patience for things like this.

At long last (or at least what felt like an eternity), our next band is up. So let’s take a few seconds to welcome Half-Life.

This female-fronted rock outfit looks like they brought a lot of people here. By the looks of it, everyone that was in here has moved towards the stage. There’s even a photographer around here to document the action. Elements like this might cause a band to get a little nervous, but they look more than ready to tackle this challenge.

As for their musical performance, they bring you everything you want from a rock show: a solid stage presence, energy, crowd participation, and that kind of upbeat attitude that comes when you’re doing something you love. The downside? They seem to turn into a different, slightly awkward band when the music stops, but for what it’s worth, they do everything right during the part that matters most.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: the best bands are the ones that can make a spectacle out of their shows. The ones that can do more than just perform their music well. They have to be in complete control, engaging to the audience, and perhaps more importantly, be something you want to see.

And within the past few minutes, I’ve seen one person in a grey jumpsuit with a face paint job and one of those Halloween novelty shackles around his wrist. Alright, I’m interested. What is this?

As I would come to find out, this is our next band, a metal outfit by the name of 50 Six Feet.

Yes, they are a metal band, but unlike most who take themselves too seriously, these guys are much more focused on bringing good vibes to “rock n’ roll’s nesting grounds” and having a great time. Heck, even at one point, they said that they have no chance of moving on, and that they’re just here for fun. In the end, it’s that what it’s all about anyway?

As for their performance, it’s another show that feels like a show. They encourage crowd participation, they toast the audience, and they even get a room full of people to throw their horns up. They’re in complete control, and they know it. Will that make a difference? We’ll find out soon enough.

We have one more band to go. Though I’m now at a point where it feels like some weeks are running together, this has been another fun night, and by the looks of it, this next band is out to show that the fun doesn’t stop until they’re finished.

Muncie natives Trackless close out the evening with a more funk-inspired performance designed to make sure everybody in the place is moving and having a great time. Though we’re at the end of the night, it’s still a decent-sized crowd, dancing and even singing along without a care in the world.

In keeping up with tonight’s theme, this is another band that does a great job in making it feel like a show. Even their demeanor just screams “get up and dance!” Of course, this is most apparent when they broke out a cover of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.” In short, it’s just a big ball of fun that sadly has to end after 25 minutes.

And with that, the action is over. The band strikes the set, the people turn in their ballots (those that haven’t already at least), and we’re left playing the waiting game. As always, this means ample time to head out to the patio or check the scores of the MLB Playoffs (or play Tetris, as I usually do). Some bands take this time to network and offer pleasantries with the others, while one person frantically tries to tally up the points.

At long last, the votes have been tallied. Six bands came, but only two can move on. So who’s left standing this week? It goes a little like this:

2nd: Trackless
1st: Half-Life

Week 8 is finally in the books. As our two winners select which spot they want in the next round, it’s time for me to head back and try to comprehend everything I just saw.

Eight weeks down, just one to go, but the action is just getting started here at the Battle of Birdy’s. We have just two spots left, with six bands coming to perform. To sum it up, I think Murder By Death put it best:

“Who will survive, and what will become of them.”