As some of you might remember, last year Viejas Casino and JackFM (100.7) put on a huge, 11 week battle of the (cover) band contest for $32,000 of cash prize money. It was called, Ultimate Music Challenge, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the judges.
This year it’s going to be even bigger and better. We’ve added an extra band each night (five instead of four) and the judges are now part of the show. It’s going to be full-on American Idol style, with the judges making comments over the PA about each band after each set. The prize money is the same ($20,000 for first place, $8,000 for second, and $4,000 for 3rd) but something cool that we added this year is a running blog about the contest — and I am going to be the blogmaster.
Each week I will post photos, analysis and snide comments about the competition. Last Sunday, May 25, was the first night. It was a great show. The interactive judging thing was a big hit, and we’re expecting it to go off. Don’t let the cover band thing fool you either. There were some truly unbelievable acts that performed last year, a lot of really fun, funky tribute bands, some of which gave me the shivers. Last week we had a Beatles tribute band and the “John Lennon” character was nothing short but a miracle from Christ. Next week we have an Alice Cooper tribute group that I cannot fucking wait to see!. Point is, I hope some of you will come out and check this out. Especially you Brian, we had fun last year - admit it!
May 28, 2008 - 9:25 pm at 9:25 pm
how incredibly lame is it that a 20K first prize is going to a freaking cover band, and not a band that writes and plays its own music? this contest contributes nothing positive to the world. boo to you, sir. boo to you.
May 28, 2008 - 9:57 pm at 9:57 pm
oh yaaaaawn. More music snobbery from the filthy feline. Cover bands, especially some of these top shelf types, are extraordinarily talented at what they do. So what if maybe these guys don’t have the talent or desire to write original music, I bet you don’t either. I know I don’t. So what’s wrong with doing someone else’s stuff? You have no concept of how difficult it is to cover some of these songs/bands and hating them is like hating a comic because he does impressions.
It is what it is yo.
May 29, 2008 - 11:00 pm at 11:00 pm
Tell you what - admittedly, I’m one of the biggest music snobs around. I just can’t help it - there’s just so much out there to be overly critical about. And yes - yes - it is so fun. I’ll bet I can out hate this “cat dirt” any day of the week. IE: Muslims, what a bunch of over-rated rubbish if you ask me (’specially since they let go of one of the most talented & creative SD musicians I’ve heard in quite a while). Weren’t they a VU cover band for a while (which was alright). Now I understand they are trying that Violent Femms thing out - ewww.
Note to the Muslims - go back to the VU thing and try to win that 20K! I happen to know that one of the judges actually likes ‘Loaded’ quite a bit.
Better to give 20K to a band that admittedly “covers” well than a band that simply “rehashes” the same ol same ol and tries to pass it off as their own “original” work.
Anyway - point being - last year’s final did rule Mr. Decker. Friggin’ good time fo’ sure. I’ll take Cash’d out over so much out there these days. Ed - count me in for one or two nights - probably closer towards the final. I’ll let you thin out the contestants a bit thank you very much.
Side note - I’ve been in original bands and I’ve even done a cover band on occasion. Both are fun (sometimes not so fun) AND hard work.
Finally - I’ll admit it. Beatlemania at Knott’s Berry Farm when I was 10 changed my life!
May 29, 2008 - 11:59 pm at 11:59 pm
I agree Brian, there is so much music out there that is deserving of our hate. It’s just not always a cover band.
I think people underestimate the art and the difficulty of cover music. In many ways, it’s harder than writing original music.
Because, if you’re in an original band, nobody is expecting the new song you wrote to sound like what it sounds like in their head. How could they, they haven’t heard it yet?
But when a cover band plays, they have to freaking nail it every time because everybody in that room knows exactly how each of those songs are supposed to sound.
Look, I fully get that cover music is a lesser art form than original music. Art is about creation, sure. but shit - why does it have to be art in order for me to enjoy it? Beer ain’t art either but I drink the hell out of it.
This is the main difference between me and Cat Dirt. If I walked into a bar that had a good cover band playing, I’d have a great old time and rock out with a bunch of guys who were loving and performing some good old rock and roll, while Cat Dirt will sit in the corner and sip his Stella Artois and sneer at them for not being artistes.
May 30, 2008 - 12:02 am at 12:02 am
P.S. for me it was Beatlemania at the Winer Garden Theater at 14 years old. My parents brought me and a friend. It was more than great. It was my first concert ( if tribute bands qualifiy). They were the first tribute band ever. They were a tribute band before there was even the term “tribute band”.
June 12, 2008 - 9:51 am at 9:51 am
I have to disagree with some of you about cover music and cover bands. Although I do agree there are some pretty redundant and stale ones out there, its a great start for some performers and singers that ARE original artists to get over their “green-ness” and gain practice performing on a very regular basis while making decent money at the same time and gain exposure. How many times have there been recording artists who sound great on a record and in the studio, yet have no experience performing live and so when they get on stage, it’s no good. I think cover music is a great avenue, especially for young”er” artists to get their feet wet performing and learn the ins and outs of live performance. If performing and entertaining is something that someone has a passion to do, and if people enjoy listening or dancing to that cover band, then the band is doing their job. There are many talented singers and musicians who sit on their ass all day long and never share their talents just because they don’t want to be in a “cover band”. I think that is sad. It’s all about fun. There are some very talented people in cover bands, if you would just open your ears and give them a chance, you might be surprised.