Stakes never higher as local bands sound the battle horn

On a wooden deck suspended above the bay Saturday night, six bands went to war.

From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., the bands thrashed through 30-minute sets. Occasionally, they pleaded for more time to send out final shots. Equipment failed. Crowds wailed. And one competitor emerged triumphant.

It was the second round during Battle of the Bands at Mooncusser’s on South Padre Island. In the balance hung a chance to the advance to the final round, where at stake is $2,500 and an opportunity to record a professional album. E-Jamnation dominated that night after the South Padre Island-based group sailed on support from a horde of local fans.

The mass of people swarmed Mooncusser’s, which occupies the building formerly home to Tequila Frog’s. When the music ended, organizers passed out ballot cards to those in attendance. They picked E-Jam and its brand of reggae-style pop music. Battle over.

Fighting will resume this evening with round five, continuing through the weekend. In the end, two more bands will be added to the finale, which happens at 8 p.m. Saturday.  A panel of judges – one radio personality and two employees of record labels – will decide the winner’s fate, along with another audience vote.

Battle on.

THE CONTENDERS SO FAR

Fed of Me
Hometown: Mission
Genre: Metal
Best weapon: These guys actually look fierce
Biggest weakness: Beach-loving locals and tourists may frown on hard rock
Kindred warrior spirit: Keanu Reeves in Devil’s Advocate

Local Locos
Hometown: South Padre Island
Genre: Reggae pop
Best weapon: Music naturally fits with the Island
Biggest weakness: One of two reggae bands playing
Kindred warrior spirit: Keanu Reeves in Point Break

Immortal Guardian
Hometown: Harlingen
Genre: Metal
Best weapon: Experienced performers and music monsters
Biggest weakness: Metal and beach are not the best combo
Kindred warrior spirit: The Highlander

E-Jamnation
Hometown: South Padre Island
Genre: Reggae pop
Best weapon: Huge local following
Biggest weakness: Up against another reggae group
Kindred warrior spirit: Aquaman

THE SPOILS

The victor walks away with $2,500 cash and an opportunity to record a 10-track album.

The recording will happen with a professional producer in McAllen’s B N T Studios. The studio time is valued at $8,000, says Alex Macias, an owner of Mooncusser’s and organizer of the event.

The winning band should use the money to shop the album to record labels, Macias says. He wrote the battle’s rules to teach the groups about promotion. The band that brought the most fans won, and hopefully learned a lesson.

THE FINAL MATCH

The battle continues all weekend.

On Friday evening, another slate of bands will take a shot at the finals. The rules remain unchanged from the past few weeks. On Saturday afternoon, an audience vote will select the sixth competitor for the finals. All six bands will then compete in the last round, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Bands registered for this weekend include Broken Poetz, Smoking Caterpillars, Saints & Traitors, Bionicore and about 8 others.

Zack Quaintance covers local music for Festiva. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447 or zquaintance@themonitor.com.