When it comes to supporting Adelaide’s local music scene, Keep It Real’ Entertainment and Global Music Revolution are doing one hell of a job! They’ve just wrapped up Keep It Real’s annual ‘Battle of the Bands’ and the competition was tough, to say the least. Five bands made it through the heats to the grand final hoping to win the $1000 prize and the opportunity to head into Keep It Real’s recording studio.
Choosing Sides kicked off the evening and immediately you could hear the Brit-rock influence: think Muse or Arctic Monkeys inspired with intricate vocals and melodies that showed off technique. The trio’s catchy choruses and well-crafted songs had a hint of heavy, with a Triple J vibe about them, and that could take them a long way.
Alium is a young metal outfit, undeniably influenced by bands like Metallica and Pantera. The band’s set featured killer riffs and face-melting solos that you’d expect from a band beyond their years. With clean and rough vocals above the thrashy melodies, it’s clear that heavy metal comes naturally to these guys, and after only a year of playing together, you can’t help but think this is the beginning of big things.
With a great name and a great sound, Do A Flip’s set was on point and obviously well-rehearsed. Warm vocals with a raspy tone filled the venue and prominent drums built up the music. These fellas functioned like a well-oiled machine, filling the room with their rocking tunes.
Supersonic, psychedelic and groovy: The Matehs have a similar vibe to The Delta Riggs but turned up a gear with creativity and flow. They were hypnotic and unpredictable; their songs evolved yet had a freeness to them that allowed individual expression—prompting some interpretative dance moves from the audience.
Rounding off the competition was Hard To Tame. The guys stood true to their name with a theatrical flair, complementing their fiery melodies. Strong, rough vocals with a powerful range, backed by thrashy guitars had the audience totally enthralled. The charisma of the entire band, their stage presence and performance was so cohesive that they pulled the biggest crowd of the night.
While the judges were adding up points, the winners of 2016 took to the stage to keep the party going. Radix reminded everyone why they won with their energetic presence and rocking sound. The fellas stepped aside as the last note rung out and Keep It Real’s Tom Burgess appeared with a giant cheque. With only a few points between first place and runner up, it was a close one. Coming in second was Alium, and taking out the win was Hard To Tame—a well-deserved victory.
It was another successful event for Keep It Real’ Entertainment and Global Music Revolution: a stellar lineup of artists, great opportunities and exposure for Adelaide’s up-and-coming musicians. Cheers to some damn fine live music.
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Photos: Tom Burgess
