By Michael Luce
It’s always interesting to see how the crowd, bands, and general tone of the show differ from night to night at Battle of the Bands. While Tuesday night was violent and sweaty, last night was, to put it simply, not. This show was much more laid-back and focused more on vocal aptitude than energy. It was a nice shake-up to be sure.
Two quick things before I get into it: First, I just need to geek out at how cool it is that I got to judge for Velour Battle of the Bands. I got to sit in the enchanted chamber! I may have peaked honestly. Second, I must apologize for missing an incredible and obvious pun in yesterday’s recap. I should have called Kid Presentable’s set a coup d’ska. (If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out yesterday’s post, complete with the newly-added pun.) Ok, with those out of the way, we’re onto the music!
Beta Mail
Beta Mail (fantastic name btw) kicked off the night and quickly settled into the rootsy/Western style suggested by their cowboy hats and belt buckles, but also had so many other unique elements that made them truly one of a kind. From a stylophone solo to a song where one member was playing both drums and mandolin simultaneously, the group was certainly unique. The most notable inclusion was a vocal harmonizer fx box frontman Danny Brown used. I never thought this style of music would sound good with vocoder-esque processing on the vocals, but it transformed the group into something really new and different. It certainly didn’t hurt that the whole group had an incredibly endearing, disarming stage presence either, so anything too weird could be just shrugged off.
These guys would have totally killed it in the early 2010s when groups like Phillip Phillips and Mumford & Sons ruled the airwaves. The only thing that didn’t work for me were a few of their arrangements. It felt like the piano and the bass were conflicting here and there, and I think there was just too much happening in the lower-mids range of sound. There were a few other spots where nerves or excitement seemed to take over too, as the cohesion wasn’t always perfect and a few of the guitar solos were a bit sloppy. That said, this was a really pleasurable, really unique experience.
There was an especially tender moment in this set where the excitement became too much for Danny and he broke down crying while expressing his thanks for everyone and the opportunity to be there. It was clear he wanted to be there more than words could express, and it was so sweet to see the whole experience hit him like that. These guys were just so excited and happy to be there, and that kind of genuine joy is contagious. As Beta Mail finished their last song, they erupted into group hugs and cheers amongst themselves, clearly proud of what they had accomplished (and rightfully so), and the crowd was singing their music all the way until the next group started. Seriously, go give these guys a listen. They don’t have much out yet, but they deserve all the support the community can throw their way.
HASHA
As HASHA took the stage, host John Schultz mentioned that lead singer Marie Hopoate has 18 siblings, and although I doubt all 18 were present, I couldn’t help but think how that’s enough family to significantly sway the crowd vote. Voting logistics aside, HASHA has a beautiful shimmery sound that dwells in a tight but laid-back groove. The group really just sat in those deep feels moments, content to be there in the moment and emotion without moving on too quickly. I also loved the moments of storytelling between a few of the songs that unobtrusively gave the background of the track and then got right into it. HASHA really had that perfect blend of sharing enough for people to connect, but not so much that it eats into the flow.
However, the true centerpiece of HASHA’s performance were Marie’s gloriously captivating vocals. Her voice elicited some of the most genuine audience responses of the night, as the crowd was filled with gasps and “wow”-s over and over again. It was almost so good the rest of the band wouldn’t have mattered; the audience still would have been mesmerized. Thankfully, it did matter, and the rest of the band played exactly as much as was needed to complement her performance and avoid any clashing.
All of this came together into a climactic finale in “Where Are You Now?” The track felt like that euphoric moment in a movie where the heroes are finally able to step free into a picturesque scene where the sun is shining and everyone is happy crying. I got absolute chills. Heck, I’m getting chills remembering it. This was one of those special moments you remember for a long time.
The main thing I wish from the group is that they allowed themselves to be a bit showier. There were great moments like a solid guitar solo that just felt a bit underwhelming because their stage presence was so dialed back. Marie’s vocals might be a powerhouse, but there’s only so far one aspect of the show can carry the rest, and I’d love to see the band let themselves show off a bit more swagger.
Staycation
As a younger fella, I’ve never had the opportunity to attend a proper dance hall or see the live bands there as was popular in days gone by, but watching Staycation is what I imagine that felt like. These guys introduced themselves as dad rock, but I think they just forgot how to pronounce ‘dance music’ if I’m being real with you. These guys were laying down track after track of danceable goodies, and the audience was feeling good too. I was sad so many people left before their set because everyone at Velour was having a great time, with little interruption. At one point, instead of pointlessly chatting with the audience, one of the singers flat out said, “I’ve got nothing left to say; let’s keep the vibes going” and started the next song.
The group was at its strongest when the vocalists shared their duties, whether that be call and response lines, unison singing, or harmonizing with each other. Staycation also made the best use of keys of the night, as their synth solos nailed that sweet spot in the mix.
Unfortunately, as happens with live music, there seemed to be some technical issues or instrument problems partway through the set. Whatever happened, it put a serious damper on the group’s good vibes. I’m not sure exactly why, but there was a palpable change in the air as the group suddenly lost a lot of energy and cohesion. They were still great, but something just seemed off. BotB carries a strange air sometimes, and the way bands respond can make a huge difference on their night. Eventually though, Staycation managed to shake the slump off for their last song and closed the night out strong.
Kenya
Kenya Clark is someone to keep an eye on in the upcoming years. She has a natural charisma about her and absolutely has the potential to be the next local starlet, a la Beeson or Paige Fish. Her vocals are impressive, and she’ll be a real force to contend with once that raw creative energy congeals and focuses a bit more.
Potential and newness were the underlying themes of Kenya (the band)’s performance. The group just felt unsure and hesitant for so much of their set. Host John Schultz gave some trivia beforehand that a few of the songs were only a week old, and I think that was probably the deciding factor here. When Kenya were good, they were really good, but it was super apparent when they weren’t sure about themselves. It’s great to test new boundaries and push innovations in your performances, but if your songs are so new you have to pull up the lyrics on your phone at BotB, it doesn’t look great. Remember, you can make almost anything look good if you do it with confidence.
That said, the band is a solid group of performers, and they did a great job of staying out of each other’s way sonically. That’s hard for a lot of bands to learn, and it seems like Kenya have already started to figure that out. Like I said, when Kenya were confident, they were really good. Their last track exploded out of nowhere with passion, performance, and one of the best guitar solos of the night. Ultimately, I think the group just needed a few more chances to completely figure the material out before the pressure of Battle of the Bands put them on the hot seat.
Results
Following all four sets and a few minutes to tally the scores, John Schultz returned to the stage to announce that for the second night in a row, all four bands had received first-place votes from the judges! After a brief moment to applaud some of the other awesome people at Battle of the Bands (including our very own Ivan Martinez, photographer extraordinaire), he continued and announced HASHA as the ultimate victor from Night 3. They join previous nights’ winners Swerved By Blondes and Lonely Heights and will return to play again this Saturday.
Velour’s Summer 2024 Battle of the Bands continues tonight with Night 4! The By and By, The Tyler Gould Band, Welcome Home Sundance, and Avantaquin will be playing for a shot at finals. Doors open at 7:30 PM and tickets are $12. Until then, you can check out “Away” from HASHA below!