Music will never be the same again after the Global Battle of the Bands (GBOB) comes to The Bahamas to pit some of the country’s hottest and most diverse bands against each other for the opportunity to snag the title of The Bahamas’ best band and win an all-expense paid trip to Romania to compete at the international battle finale in June.
The Illest, a popular reggae fusion band; Avante Guarden, a young rock band; the Kim Welcome Band, a group with a jazzy-soul beat; New Entry Band from Abaco, a soca and R&B band; Stinkin’ Wayz, a fusion rock band; Ira Storr and the Spank Band, a traditional rake-n-scrape and goombay band; Naykid-I, a dread-rock band; The Truth, a reggae fusion band and 30 Something, a pop rock band, will battle it out at the one-day national heat scheduled for Saturday, March 31 at the Botanical Gardens.
This is not a competition for the faint-of-heart because many of the competitors that are lining up are already legends in their own right and they intend to bring the fire. The upcoming battle is also the perfect opportunity for up-and-coming bands to not only vie for international stardom, but to get their names out locally. Many of the bands have been performing together for years, but haven’t gotten any local recognition.
Each band also has something different to offer, but only one will walk away with the bragging rights and the round trip ticket to Romania. Music lovers will want to be front and center for this historic music battle, said Nadine Thomas-Brown, one of the organizers of the competition. She said it will be dynamic.
“When you think about a music competition in The Bahamas, most people can’t help but imagine it will be rake n’ scrape, goombay or calypso bands, but this competition is definitely something different. There are no bars or limits when it comes to genre or age of the members,” said Thomas-Brown. “All competitors need to do is be able to produce original music and lyrics of their own. The band has to be between two and eight members, and there can be no track music. It has to all be live. This will be amazing, so all bands need to come out and show us what they’ve got.”
With 10 bands signed on to compete so far, Thomas-Brown said they hope more bands sign on before the day of the competition, as a battle of this magnitude, she said, is one of the best ways to really set a new course for a band’s career. And she said they want to choose the best band.
Bill Burlingame, guitarist and vocalist in The Truth said this will be a competition to remember. His band is one he expects will be able to connect to more people due to their diversity. He believes they have a great chance of winning.
“This is such an awesome opportunity to take our music and message not only to The Bahamas, but on an international stage. Our sound is more reggae fusion with rock and jazz. We have a fresh sound that I am sure people will love. Our lead singer, Judah, has a unique voice that will have the crowd rocking. I think we have a great chance of taking the competition. We have an ability to reach a lot more people in a lot more ways. Our sound is universal and a lot more appealing to a wide range of people in age and musical interests.”
Introducing a sound that is different and firey is what Anderson Alcime, vocalist in the New Entry Band from Abaco, anticipates will make his band stand out. Their Caribbean soca flavor, he said, will really appeal to the crowd and the conscious vibe of their lyrics will really catch on.
“Our level of energy and passion for the competition will really make us stand out. We have six members in the group and we really will be having fun out there. When you think of soca many think of wining up and jumping up, but we have a different feel and we will bring something people can really relate to. It’s going to be a real challenge for other bands.”
The Illest drummer, Loran Bailey, said his band’s performance will be a fusion of reggae, rock and roll and jazz rolled into one for a performance that will be entertaining, filled with high energy and something the crowd and the judges won’t forget.
“I think we have what it takes to win,” said Bailey. “I’m excited to see what the other bands bring because some I’ve seen and others I haven’t.”
Bailey said it would be great if they make it to Romania.
“We will be able to take what we do outside these ‘walls’ and really be on a stage where more people can appreciate our sound. It will be exciting to be able to play for an international crowd and really get out there. This competition will really test us and showcase more than ever what this band is about.”
Shelley Ward, vocalist for 30 Something band said her band’s appearance in the competition will set the bar high. The band which fuses a unique combination of beats expects to rock the competition away.
“I think we are more pop reggae beat and I don’t mean Rihanna. It’s kind of hard to just classify in one way since all the members are influenced by vastly different types of music which really makes us sound different. When we go to competition, we will bring positivity, experience and a very unique sound. I expect we will stand out because our music is good and there aren’t many female-led bands. I’m the only female in the band and I don’t see that often. This already gives the band a non-traditional feel and that’s how we view music as well.”
Thomas-Brown said it is vital for even more bands to come out to the competition because an opportunity like this doesn’t come around everyday. She says too many musicians work hard to make it on the local scene, but fail to reach their full potential because they are afraid to showcase their talents.
“This is the first time for The Bahamas and it is a great opportunity. There are few chances like these offered here for musicians to expand themselves and become known for their music on an international level. We have a lot of people who do great things and spend their life being in the national spotlight but not making many waves internationally. One of the most well-known groups is Baha Men and they aren’t the only talented musicians we have in this country, so this competition provides the perfect opportunity for musicians to show what they can do.”
GBOB is the world’s largest live music competition for bands of all genres. It held it’s first competition in 2004 in which 16 countries participated. Now the competition attracts over 30 countries annually. Previous winners have been Spanish Indie band, Second in 2004; Irish band, Kopek in 2005, and U.S. Alternative/Hip Hop band, Heavy Mojo in 2006. In 2007, Boys in a Band from Faroe Islands took home the crown; in 2008, English band, Floors and Walls rocked their way to the win. In 2009, the Chinese band, Rustic moved the judges, and in 2011, Jamaican band Dubtonic Kru got the bragging rights.
Bands interested in battling can send an email to www.gbobbahamas@gmail.com. Organizers will then give them further instructions on how to apply.
Chakara Bennett
The Nassau Guardian
Published: February 24, 2012
