Individual
It can be hard to believe that Connecticut still hasn't gotten over Staind. But it's even harder to believe that, years later, this state could give rise to a band that kicks ass like Calm to Chaos. While they're firmly rooted in Staind's alt-metal tradition, they have the subtlety that a lot of their peer groups gloss over — which is to say that they show their frustration through their gnarly guitar sounds and vocal styles, rather than tell it through a bunch of crappy lyrics. Steve Bishop's thick bass sound drenches their songs in anger.
Twangy and quiet, Instrument is a unique newcomer amongst this year's cranked-to-11 Band Slam winners. Harder to believe is the fact that all three members met while working at a bar. Opting for rootsy rock instead of metal, this trio is starting to expand outside of Hartford and gain a grass roots fan following. When drummer Derek Egerman isn't hitting the skins for Instrument, he's DJing at Hartford's Pig's Eye Pub.
This year's Band Slam is full of twofers — likely because when you see a good band like Tenet, you stick with them. Sweeping Best Pop Rock for the 2nd year in a row, this year Tenet's skinsman Jim Townsend also took Hartford's Best. Tenet is writing material for their second album of originals, and oddly enough, it's got a bit of a reggae twist to it. Guess we don't have to worry much about them stagnating.
Oh. My. God. Like, do you hear those synths? Saying that Pong does covers is kind of like saying that the Goonies go exploring — it's a bit of an understatement. Jenna Keller uses her huge voice to belt out new wave hits: Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, and A Ha for starters. Lots of local bands dabble in the '80s, but Pong make their musical career out of it. Just don't put your lighter in the air — you might ignite someone's L.A. Looks-soaked hairdo.
For the second year in a row, Chris Macpherson can sit back on his couch knowing that he is the ultimate guitar master of the greater Hartford area. Perhaps it's his reverence for getting the guitar tones just-so when covering popular hits with Explicit — he lines his rig up to sound exactly like the original.
Craig Struble
This is the second year in a row that Craig Struble has taken our Best
Harmonica category, but the first that he's done it with newcomers the
Bus Drivers. The group, which also features Jeff Presch on vocals, has
exploded in the past year, gigging all over and even outside of
Connecticut. Their rootsy American rock gets a unique twist from
Struble, who plays his mouth harp through a Leslie organ speaker. As a
duo, Presch grabs a guitar, and he and Struble cover an appallingly
large catalogue of popular songs.
We're considering making a "Best Klezmer/Techno/Tuvan Throat Singing" category for next year's Band Slam. On second thought, Sugarfist would probably win it. It's been a major year for the band: many fans were sad to see founding member and vocalist Jenn Jacobs depart the band, but new vocalist Krizta Moon is shaping up to be a powerhouse in her own right. Their recent CD, Media Date Rape, is getting the most positive attention yet. Sex—er, I mean sax man Cass Stevens took our Best Horn category for the 2nd year straight. And the band just released a self-produced music video for their epic track "The Anti A-Merry-Can Swing" — it's almost 10 minutes long!
"I don't really know why I got Best Keys," says That Guy, suggesting that "Best Keys While Intoxicated" might be more appropriate. Formerly known as SideShow, the members of that band regrouped and formed Big Floppy Disk, a cover band whose mission was to plumb the depths of cheese. That Guy and his keyboard, dubbed the Sex Organ, vowed to leave no stone unturned, busting out schlock like Simple Minds alongside the usual suspects.
Mike Tracy of The Degenerates
mp3: Fall_bounce1_mastered.mp3
To download MP3s: right-click (Mac users: control-click) on the file name and select "Save Target As..." (listed choices vary between Web browsers). Open the downloaded file from your hard disk in the audio application of choice.
Taking the Best Cover/Tribute Category for the 2nd year in a row, the Degenerates are living proof that a bad attitude can in fact help you move up in the world. Pretty much nothing's sacred to them — not even their band. Just a year ago they mocked their own lack of original material; this year they've returned with a full disc of their own songs! So when you rock out to "Hero of Stupidity," you can smile knowing it was made by a bunch of big fat liars.
Brian Jarvis
www.bjarvismusic.com
www.myspace.com/brianjarvis
mp3: Take Me For A Ride MP3.MP3
To download MP3s: right-click (Mac users: control-click) on the file name and select "Save Target As..." (listed choices vary between Web browsers). Open the downloaded file from your hard disk in the audio application of choice.
"I started throwing in an original here and there, and people would start coming up to me going 'What was that last song?'" For Jarvis, throwing originals in among the covers has been the formula for success in Hartford. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he has a knack for writing songs as catchy as the hits he surrounds them with. When Jarvis isn't playing solo, he can be found rocking with a full band and recording new tracks with the guys from Rane.
