The Battle of the Bands was held at the Marquee Club in Halifax over the past month with an extensive ensemble of musical talent from all throughout Nova Scotia. Most notebly, and my personal favorite, Sydney's very own local ruffians, ROCK RANGER, who had been displaced from their comfortable settings of stiff drinks and accents, seeping smells of some unseen odor, and usual drone life which Sydney has to offer its' young folk!
So,ROCK RANGER, packed up and piled into the hulking blue machine they call a 'VAN' , which was obtained in a bargain struck with another infamous member of the HOUSE OF ROCK, Darren Power. They arrive in Halifax to compete in the contest put on by local radio station Q104 and Keith's Brewery with a cash prize of $5000 dollars, along with the promise that the winner will play the annual Halifax BASH put on by Keith's brewery's attracting large crowds and scouts for major record labels. The winner will also have their CD sent to all the major labels for a chance to be recognized by the industry!
With all this in mind, ROCK RANGER begin the contest and slowly move through the ranks of lesser bands sharing the glory with fellow Sydneyites, SLOWCOASTER , who also are trampling the competition, in a tag-team of Caper strength!! Q104 plays host to Rock Ranger, as well as Slowcoaster, in 'ON-AIR' interviews to give the public a better profile of the bands!
As the Battle comes closer to the end, three bands have endured the fight to stand off against each other in one final assault!!! ROCK RANGER, SLOWCOASTER , and Halifax locals - Inland, come head -to- head on Saturday, September 22, 2001, in the Musical Mecca of halifax, The Marquee Club. The crowd is filled with Caper's who have emerged from their holes to cheer on and stand shoulder to shoulder with their brother's of toxic contamination, Rock ranger and Slowco. Slowcoaster begins, followed by Inland and finished up by Rock Ranger! All three bands play solid shows, but ROCK RANGER inspires the crowd into fits of sober/drunkin chanting that totters on the edge of a possessed riot!!!! Rock Ran...ger, Rock Ran...ger, Rock Ran...ger can be heard resounding through the whole bar, and most likely out into the streets on north end Halifax! I can't help but see how the judges could not be overwhelmingly and unanimiously convinced that ROCK RANGER, being the public undisputed champion, could cast their votes any other way! But somehow, like most things the media has any involvement with, botched the contest and proclaimed SLOWCOASTER the champions of 2001 BATTLE OF THE BANDS!
I guess i should be happy that at least one of Sydney's bands earned the right to have a chance at making it big in this shitty industry. Alas, I can't help but feel that ROCK RANGER were pushed aside to wait a little longer for their chance at the world due to something stupid....such as they were not as radio friendly as Slowcoaster, or bands who spit beer on each other and the crowd are not well received by the mindless majority! Not to knock Slowcoaster, the guys in the band are great guys and talented musicians, but in my opinion, as well as in many others, i believe Rock Ranger were most deserving of the victory and splendors of the battle. All i can hope is that ROCK RANGER have had a chance to spill their beer on the heads of major record labels and to howl at the backstabbing radio dorks at Q104 for not recognizing the "TRUE" champions of the BATTLE OF THE BANDS this September, 2001. As for the band, WE all know who is the best band in CANADA..........
