With a new television season imminent there are bound to be dozens of competition-style reality shows. So You Think You Can Dance Canada and America’s Next Top Model are both set to start up again this September. Feel like you want a change? Maybe instead of more vapid television, how about something that you can cheer for in person?
King of the Stage 2008 is a battle of the bands-style competition going on at Nicky Zee’s. The competition features local acts all working towards the finals, a chance to play at the Playhouse, and to be crowned “King of the Stage 2008.”
The winner of the competition will also receive 5000 dollars, radio play, and a master copy of a tape of their performance in the finals.
Some of the bands that have made it this far in the competition include Rusted Dawn, Bullet Hero, and The Nancies.
Another band that has managed to make it this far into the competition is She Roars! When asked about what their sound was like, drummer Kyle Clark said with a laugh, “Oh, that question. We take a lot of stuff from the stuff we like, Taking Back Sunday and that kind of stuff. [We’re a] faster kind of poppier emo rock and then we mix influences like Matchbox 20 and stuff like that into it. It’s all played on acoustic guitar but it’s like poppy acoustic rock that’s kind of upbeat.”
If She Roars!’s sound seems a little eclectic, they’re just a glimpse of the wide range of sound in the competition.
“Oh, there’s everything. There’s a country-funk band. Rusted Dawn, they’re a grind thrash band. There’s a radio rock band. The Nancies are this fun Bloc Party-like band, but a little grungier. There’s everything,” says Clark.
However, the mix of sounds hasn’t kept people away from watching the competition unfold as of yet.
“I’ve seen a lot more people that do not normally come to shows coming out just because their friend’s band’s playing or they heard from somebody else that so one so is playing. There have also been a lot of people coming out just to see what the whole thing is about,” says Clark.
She Roars! has also gone on to see a lot of supporters throughout the competition and were looking forward to their show Friday night.
“I expect it to go pretty well. We usually get a really good response. We’ve been having an amazingly good time getting people to come out and stay out. We’ve had a great amount of luck, a lot of people have been coming out to the shows just because they hear we’re playing. After every song everyone was clapping and everyone was watching and paying attention,” said Clark a couple hours before performing on Friday night.
Other bands have seen a great deal of support for their performances as well.
“Rusted Dawn has a really loyal following of guys that are into that band; they’re always right upfront. They’re so interactive with their crowd... it’s a great live show to watch,” Clark said.
Clark also claims that all the bands are getting similar attention, “Every band has had its own little thing and its own little crowd.”
In addition to the attraction to see all of the local talent playing, Clark thinks the venue is attracting a few more people to the audience.
“The thing about [Nicky] Zee’s is that anyone that would go to see the one of the bands at the Capital would be willing to go see a showthere, but someone who might never take the time to go to the Capital might be willing to go to [Nicky] Zee’s and come check it out.”
There has been a good deal of camaraderie between bands as well. When asked who he would want to win if She Roars! didn’t, Clark said, “Either Rusted Dawn or The Nancies. Rusted Dawn has been getting out and going on tour, I mean I know they could use it.”
Last Friday and this Friday are the quarter-finals for the competition. Eliminations (judged fifty percent by judges and fifty percent by the audience) follow, then the semis, a bye week for the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival and finally the finals at the Playhouse. Tickets for the final show can be purchased at the Playhouse Box Office.
The competition started August 8th and finishes September 19th. For more information, check out Nicky Zee’s on Facebook or MySpace.
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