FINALISTS JUST ANNOUNCED! - FINALS ARE FEB 17
Buster Brown and the Get Down
Brightwork
The Dirty Jacks
Kill The Alarm
Northern Virginia Magazine will be present to report on the battle with pre, mid and post coverage on their online blog, The Game Plan. (See pre-event post here.)
Bands! Do you need postcards, posters, websites or other promo materials? Check out bandsbyluke.com!
Judging Criteria
- Musicianship 30%
- How is the singers voice?
- How are the drummer's and guitar player's chops?
- Songwriting 30%
- Are the songs well written?
- Are the songs catchy, yet interesting and musically unique?
- Did the band choose good songs for the flow of their set?
- The Solid Factor 10%
- How tight are the changes?
- Does the band seem well rehearsed?
- Do the band's moves appear natural?
- The Look 10%
- Does the band have a good image?
- Do they put on a show? Do they do something extra other than play the song?
- Crowd Response 20%
- How does the band involve the crowd in the show?
- Is the crowd reacting to the band's songs and movements on stage?
Emcee
Nate Ihara
We Were Kings
Nate Ihara is the lead singer and songwriter for the band We Were Kings as well as for films, television, and other artists in the Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles area.
After a short run with Virgin Records, 6 years with a touring band, and 3 years underground, We Were Kings emerged from what Nate Ihara had originally planned as a solo effort. Ihara formerly fronted the now defunct D.C. based band Welbilt before picking up the bass guitar for The Blackjacks, another popular band from the area currently by way of Nashville, TN.
With himself fronting the We Were Kings project, the official lineup additionally consists of Mike Smirnoff (Spirit Animal, No Second Troy, and The Blackjacks) on drums, Cal Stamp (Spirit Animal) on guitars and keys, and a small cast of a revolving members from various local and national bands. The songs are inspired by a variety of influences ranging from Sting and The Police to Elvis Costello, Brighteyes to The Black Keys, Ryan Adams, and One Republic. While the band itself is young it's members are all veterans of the music scene on both the local and national level.
The group's debut album scheduled to be released in June 9, 2011 at 9:30 Club with friends Quietdrive, Shinobi Ninja, and The Blackjacks.
Judges
Mary Adkins / Ron Adkins
GraphixStation / SeeJoeRock.com
Mary Adkins surrounds herself everyday with music and art as the President of graphic design firm, GraphixStation, Inc. and the Founder of SeeJoeRock.com - the coolest musician's social network connecting unsigned musicians with music industry professionals as well as other artists alike.
Mary has been around music her whole life, as a singer, musician and over-all fan; hitting up music conferences, concerts, judging battles and staying an avid supporter for new talented musicians. Follow and network with Mary on SJR, Twitter & FB! www.seejoerock.com and keyword: SeeJoeRock.
Amber Foster
Last Call Entertainment / Giggin' Artist Development
Amber-Therese Foster is a full-time booking agent with Last Call Entertainment, and a managing partner and artist manager for Giggin’ Artist Development. She has worked with hundreds of bands in a variety of capacities over the last 10 years and her current management roster includes DC-area band Citizen*(www.thisiscitizen.com). She has also worked as a producer for DC101’s Local Lix, a radio show dedicated to playing unsigned local bands, for the past five years.
Marianne Meyer
Music Journalist
In her long career as a freelance writer, Marianne Meyer has written music and arts previews and features for The Washington Post, New York Times, Rolling Stone and other publications. She has both an Emmy and a Peabody award for her television and radio work. Marianne currently blogs at ClosePersonalFriend.com and writes two columns for Examiner.com, one about digital music (www.examiner.com/digital-music-in-national/marianne-meyer) and another featuring reviews and photo galleries of DC area concerts (www.examiner.com/concert-photography-in-washington-dc/marianne-meyer).You can follow her twitter feed @mariannemeyer.
Barbara Parker
Wolf Trap
Barbara Parker is currently Director of Operations for Wolf Trap’s Program & Production Department where she handles performances at The Barns at Wolf Trap and Wolf Trap’s Filene Center. Since her start at Wolf Trap in 1998, she has worked with performers from David Byrne, Elvis Costello and Steve Miller Band to local favorites like Pat McGee Band and Eddie from Ohio. Barbara has a BFA in Dance Performance from George Mason University.
Pat Sommers
Pat Sommers Rock Shop
Pat’s rock credentials include touring with numerous bands (Jagged Steel, Cypress, Sticky) and recording with rock legends Ace Frehley (KISS) and Roger Daltrey (The Who). Pat’s work as a Rock-n-Roll hired gun led to his performing and writing with Frank Carillo (currently touring with John Hammond’s band), Ricky Byrd (formerly of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts), Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Al Greenwood (Foreigner) and Ritchie Supa (co-writer of Aerosmith’s hit single “Chip Away at The Stone” and the 1 platinum success single “Amazing” from the Get A Grip LP). After leaving the music scene for a break to raise his son, he’s back and ready to rock with the intensity of a true ROCK N’ ROLL LEGEND!!!
Mark Williams
Sucker Punch Recording Co.
Mark Willliams is a producer/engineer/guitarist from Silver Spring, MD. Mark spent 7 years touring and recording nationally with the renowned band Jonasay. Since 2003, Mark has been producing and playing session gigs. In January Mark opened Sucker Punch Recording Co., in Bethesda, MD with the fabulous Paul Barber.