Saratoga Springs, NY – A dynamic roster of bands is slated to compete live at SPAC’s Battle of the Bands, on Friday, May 24 at 7 p.m.
before an audience and a panel of celebrity judges for the chance to
win one of two titles and accompanying prize packages: “judge’s choice”
and “audience choice.” Tickets are on sale now at
spac.org
“This
year’s competition will be one for the record books with a line-up of
top-notch bands who possess immense artistry, originality,
and a plethora of musical gifts,” said Marcia J. White, President &
Executive Director.
The full list of finalist bands includes:
7 P.M. | Ghosts on 33rd:
Combining emotion with a heavy melody, Ghosts on 33rd
strives to connect to their fans through their lyrics. Currently the
band is working on their first E.P. Hailing from Granville, NY, the band
describes their sound as melodic hard core.
7:20 P.M.| A Little More Us:
The Washington County, NY
pop and rock and roll group is fresh off their debut release of
“American Loser” which earned wide acclaim. The band is working on their
newest E.P. “The Dirty Truth”.
7:40 P.M.| Call Security:
The public
vote winner, Call Security is a young alternative rock group is from
Averill Park, currently based out of Hobart and William Smith colleges.
Since its founding last year, the band has performed in many different
venues, even opening for the Passion Pit last
spring. According to lead vocalist Ben Scheibel, the band has been told
that their songs have a “Mumford and Sons feel” and others more closely
resemble “Grouplove and Neon Trees.”
8 P.M. | This Renaissance:
This
Renaissance headed to New Windsor, NY to record their newest single
“Forgive Her, Forget Him”, with the legendary John Naclerio at Nada
Recording Studios to be released in summer of 2013. The band’s sound
draws combined inspiration from bands like Story of
the Year and Sleeping with Sirens, combining power driven rock with
catchy melodies. They’ve shared the stage with bands including Jamie’s
Elsewhere, Icon For Hire, and Black Veil Brides and proven they can meet
the challenge of winning over crowds outside
their genre.
8:20 P.M. | The Lucky Jukebox Brigade:
The seven-piece ensemble engages an eclectic
crew of instruments including bass, drums, viola and violin, a 3 piece
horn section, a second drumkit featuring djembe, conga, guira and more,
fronted by Deanna DeLuke and her
baritone ukulele. Their debut album "Pretty Well Damned" was released
on May 18th. The
gypsy rock orchestra band also recently completed a summer tour from their hometown in Albany, NY to Austin, TX and back.
8:40 P.M. | VONTUS:
This young alternative rock trio from Queensbury attributes their sound to influences such as
Kings of Leon, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Black Keys,
Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Neon Trees. They are currently working on
original music in the studio and already have their first recordings on
iTunes now.
9 P.M. |The Margo Macero Project:
Returning to SPAC’s Battle
of the Bands, Margo Macero recorded her first E.P. “It Is What It Is,”
and now leads her musical career fusing rock, blues and soul. A Glens
Falls native, Margo studied at the Berklee
College of Music in Boston. Known to deliver bone-chilling
performances with aggressive guitar solos and power house vocals of pure
soul, Macero has been compared to Janis Joplin, Melissa Etheridge, Joss
Stone and Steven Tyler.
9:20 P.M.| The Racer:
The Racer, hailing from the northern suburbs of NYC, mixes its
creativity and pop sensibility equally with determination and kinetic energy. The success of their debut album, 2010’s
Strangers We’ll Become has
ushered in a growing list of professional accolades including numerous
placements on TV shows such as MTV’s Jersey Shore, The Real World: New
Orleans, and The Challenge, and inclusion
of the single “Couch Sitting Rattlesnake” on the hit video game Rock
Band 3. The band has also cultivated an incredible following with their
tours of the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and West Coast and performances
at Austin, TX’s Red Gorilla Music Fest, Milwaukee,
WI’s Summerfest, and opening slots for headliners such as Say Anything,
Matt and Kim, and Rusted Root, among others.
10 P.M.| Rites of Ash:
This
electronic pop/hard rock band combines countless influences including
Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park, RedOne and Lady Gaga, resulting in a
unique sound. Rites
of Ash has collaborated with Pablo Manzarek, the son of Ray Manzarek of
‘The Doors’, world-renowned DJs Idee and Paul Edge, photographer Doug
Sonders, and Grammy-winning engineer Kevin “131” Gutierrez. Their
current album,
She’s Out for Blood, was
released in July 2012. The group has begun working with Grammy-winning
producer Jeff Bova on a new album, set for release in 2013.
New this year, two winners will be announced; a selection made by the celebrity judges and the audience favorite.
The judges’ selection will win the opportunity to play on one of Webster Hall’s
stages, 25 hours of studio time at The Recording Company, airplay on northeast radio station WEQX, and custom t-shirts and stickers by Saratoga Statement;
the audience favorite will have the opportunity to perform at SPAC before an event.
This year’s judges are: Richard Pawelczyk of NYC’s Webster Hall,
Donna Eichmeyer of Live Nation, and Greg Haymes Nippertown.com
editor and musician.
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