Battle of the Bands. It’s a battle, OK? Think fierce. But backstage afterwards there was shouting and whooping from the losers, hugs for the winners and an unwelcome pat on the bottom for one lady journalist.
VB: the makers and breakers of the world?
In light of all this inter-band camaraderie, I am doubly surprised by pre-show gossip in the audience: ‘yeah well they’re only in it because VentnorBlog”¦’
I wish all VB gossipers well and promise we have no connection.
I’ve simply been covering this competition because I think you’d like to be ahead of the curve, so don your indie jacket and the pointy shoes of soul.
A good gig(gle)
This being the Final, all the bands were spruced up and lovely: Nearly New bounced all over the stage with rampant playfulness, harmonizing hillbilly with hard rock and emotive, unfettered vocals, All Seasons Ale Club howled high and beautifully with quirky, jingling jazz; Jake Stimson pop-rocked in waves of cartoonish euphoria and September Skies were coy, unfurling a sound reminiscent of R.E.M. with guitars now taking pride of place up front. Their laptop (playing the part of backing vocals in looping cascades) was peeping beside the drum kit.
In vain, however, because none of the above made it to the festival stage.
Sundown City for the bandstand
Securing second place, Sundown City thumped into a prime slot on the festival bandstand. Their charm is vividly boyish; all thump-thump-thumping, optimistic home-grown indie with an outdoorsy, fast-breezy edge.
Think shiny cars, blue skies, frisbee-throwing and rock climbing”¦ I think this band would enjoy such things because they make performing on stage look like a new adventure sport, all muscle and enthusiasm.
The Bluebyrds for main stage
It appears the Bluebyrds charm judges and audience alike. A retro, tousled foursome with squealing riffs and husky laments, they are young and graciously self-effacing, but their music saunters with a mood as dense and hot as wood smoke, reminding me of all the reasons to dance to the Blues.
Their mandatory, judge-determined cover Wake Me Up (Before you Go-Go) was re-invented in reggae and their own work is scattered pleasingly around a core spirit of blues: Cry Baby Man is a tramp’s lament. Don’t Leave Me moves in doom-cha, pirouetting circles and The Fall is brand new and fully-fledged with a virtuoso guitar solo from Keir Hicks.
I sought an interview as the band emerged from a cluster of hugging supporters. For a slightly quieter introduction they led me to an echoing backstage corridor where Nearly New ambushed us and Sundown City’s Tom Bachelor shook hands as he passed by.
‘Congratulations guys.’
‘Sorry you didn’t win.’
‘That’s OK! I was happy to come second to you.’
Backstage with The Bluebyrds
The Bluebyrds, aged 16-17, hail from Chale, Alverstone, Newtown and Whippingham. Fronted by singer-songwriters Chris Williams and Keir Hicks, the pair take it in turns to lead the songs, supported by Max Harrison on drums and Devon Badman on bass.
All have been performing since their early teens. Keir and Max started playing together as a duo and Chris and Devon joined them a year ago, forming the current Bluebyrds line-up.
Chris: We really weren’t expecting to win. We thought it would be All Seasons Ale Club, all the way.
VB: Who writes the songs?
Chris: It’s me and Keir writing them mostly.
Keir: But we work together.
Chris: We’re always open to new ideas.
VB: What inspires you?
Keir [laughing]: Well! Girls.
Chris: Just sitting, playing and trying out new stuff, using the influences that we have.
Keir: I wrote a song about tramps. I guess the tune comes first and the lyrics just go on top [he blushes]. I get inspired and I want to write a story.’
Chris: Songs can literally come from anywhere, that’s the beauty of it.
VB: What are your influences?
Chris: Stevie Ray Vaughan is easily top”¦ Eric Clapton.
Max: Steve Gadd.
Chris: The sixties-seventies blues scene.
VB: Why Blues?
Chris: It’s different! We’re mixing it up a little bit.’
Keir: We want to see the charts get good again.’
Chris: We want to bring that genre back to kids that don’t really know it that well”¦ We’d like to bring all of it back into the light, really.’
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Roger Regular
