Music Features

Heat 3 of the Cambridge Band Competition was greeted with a bill of the most contrasting bands that have remained absent from previous heats. With the heightened level of diversity within the bill, civil relations between bands proved soon to wear thin, spawning a level of competition unrecognised by the previous two heats. This in turn saw the venue packed to near full capacity, and made for a night of impassioned dancing, cheering, gloating and unashamed reckless abandon, as audience members supported their band of choice with a loyalty that was notable from the foundations of the evening.

A.R.T. - by Elii Bright

A.R.T.

The first band to play did so under the guise of a generic power-pop band; a scenario that seems familiar within the local scene. Approaching the stage with audible confidence, self proclaimed art punk rockers A.R.T prove to be anything but arty. Otherworldly sound-scapes that saturate the art rock genre remain unexplored, with the band opting instead for an accessible radio friendly sound, laced with honey coated hooks, an isolated sax, a driving percussion section and at times near falsetto vocals, the band quickly gained the generous applause of an approving audience; apparently non judgmental of the abundance of haircuts of which seem to be a staple of success in the current scene.

Only two songs into the set and it was apparent that the band have a stage presence alien to previous bands, with crowd interaction being a prior concern that is refreshing and seldom seen.

With all things in mind, A.R.T have managed to outgrow the restrictions of an increasingly immobile genre, and have the potential to broaden a sound that promises to be a solid platform for future success.

After Effect

After a flawless introduction that showcased the technical ability of the band, the popularity of After Effect was prevalently dependant upon passion and the tightness in which the set was played, with the members choosing to avoid routine manufactured stage antics and regurgitated small talk to win over the crowd; an approach that seemed rewarding from the moment the set commenced.

After Effect - by Elii Bright

Following mixed reviews from local music press, After Effect would have done well to approach the set with caution, but such is the confidence in which the band played their set, that all inhibitions present prior to the performance were thrown aside, which left the band able to freely dominate the restricted confines of the stage. The set was saturated with an unrivalled energy, and a self-belief that quickly had the audience captivated from the accentuated roll of the introduction.

Failing Stacey

The penultimate band of the evening, Failing Stacey, offered a nostalgic package that subsequently left the audience wondering whether any performance could embody the hype generated by the band and their dedicated fan-base of friends.

Failing Stacey - photo by Elii Bright

Earning themselves an excess of self-belief and a healthy arrogance to match, the band catered for a very select market within the music industry, and unfortunately few found this fact easy to ignore. The band may have been greeted with a better reception had they played higher up on the bill, as each song pushed the boundaries of speed and volume, and would have been the perfect introduction to the evening's proceedings.

Technically, the band was strong, if not a little out of sync, with breakneck drums, a wash of guitar riffs and powerful retro vocals to boot; everything you would expect from a band with ripped band t-shirts, converse trainers and a confrontational attitude that previous bands consciously tried to avoid. For anyone who likes their music heavy and their hair permed, Failing Stacey could be the band for you.

Operation FM

The final band of the evening was Operation FM. The radio related title of the band is accurate insight into the radio friendly brand of music they play, and sat comfortably on a bill with A.R.T.
After missing the sound-check, the band had to make do with an average sound production; a minor contributing threat to the band's polished and confident delivery. The sickly-sweet vocals were crystalline throughout, and hooks, breaks and relentless energy were of abundance throughout the set.

Operation FM - photo by Elii Bright

Persistently energetic, the band have all the ingredients to become a success within the mainstream, and on the way will no doubt further develop the array of songwriting skills already in ownership of the band.

Heat three winners

Overall winners were A.R.T. and the winners of the 'beer cheer' were Operation FM.