Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
THE ORGANISERS of the Global Battle of the Bands competition are so excited about a Jamaican presence in the World Finals at the London Astoria Theatre on December 17, 2005, that they asked for the Jamaican finals to be held a bit earlier than originally planned.
This is so they can promote the Jamaican component in a global contest that is heavily rock influenced. It is the second year of the competition, 'Second' from Spain winning in 2004.
"When I contacted them they were so excited about the possibility of Jamaica entering," said Seretse Small, musician and Jamaica's National Director for the global contest, through his company Griot Music.
"The texture of the competition is very rock-oriented. When they heard of the possibility of Jamaica entering, with all that Jamaica has to offer, they got crazy excited," he said.
WORLD TOUR
The main prize for the winning band in the Global Battle of the Bands is US$100,000. In addition, there will be a world tour of the countries which have entered bands in the contest. So far 24 countries are officially in the competition, among them Australia, Denmark, Jordan, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand and the Ukraine.
Outlining plans for the Jamaican leg of the contest at Up On The Roof in New Kingston on Wednesday night, Small said there will be qualifying heats at Backyaad, Constant Spring Road, on October 22 and 29, 2005, with the National Finals involving six bands on November 5, also at Backyaad.
Up to 20 bands will be accommodated at each heat, on a first registered basis. Registration is done online at www.gbob.com/jamaica, with a band being anywhere from two to 10 persons. There is a registration fee of US$25 per band member, with the potential to recover some if not all of the money. Entrants may be totally unknown or already popular, with records out and well-known performances.
On the competition nights the bands will be required to play two original songs from any genre of music they choose for eight minutes and all will play with the same sound reinforcement, including amps, as they are required to bring only their personal instruments.
The live audience will decide 20 per cent of the voting, with a panel of judges assessing the other 80 per cent. Small clearly defined what the judges are looking for.
COMMERCIAL SUCCESS
"The judges will choose the band that has the greatest potential for international commercial success," Small said. "It is the song, but also how you present yourself, the energy, the vibe."
In terms of recovering the entry fee, in addition to a page on the website where bands can post their bios and promotional material, there is also one where they can download fliers that should be given to persons who are coming to the Backyaad shows. "For every flyer from your band that a person paying to enter presents, you will get some money back," Small said, mentioning a range of $60 to $100.
It is not only music that will be making the London run in December, but also fashion, as LMG Models International will be honing the images of the members of the winning band. "I am excited that a Jamaican designer is going to represent Jamaica," Lisa Garcia of LMG said. "We will be seeing this through to the very end. On the night of the finals, they are without a doubt going to be the most fashionable band on the stage." Designers with LMG are Dexter Pottinger and Chris Pablo.
Small gave some of the reasons why it is important that Jamaica enters this contest. "Because we must. It will get bigger, it will get more successful and it will change everything for the better," he said, outlining the possible spin-offs from a Jamaica victory that included international contracts, a resurgence of the live local scene and increased tourism.
GAY PROTEST
He looked briefly at what obtains in Jamaican music today, saying "for many the controversy is the anti-gay message, the gay protest and the long-term effect. I will not comment. What I will say is that in 2006 I will have been a professional musician for 20 years and working at music for close to 30 years."
"We reap what we sow," Small said, noting that in a country which has contributed original music forms to the world and heavily influenced the music of other people there are only three practice rooms at the national School of Music, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. "This level of sowing in this country will result in the same reaping - very small," he said.
He looked beyond music to the sowing of guns in the 1970s, resulting in the reaping of murdered educators in 2005.
Small gave a quick synopsis of the development of Jamaican music, up to the point where the music education available is restrictive. "The average man has nowhere to go," so dancehall is born. And now we follow behind it," he said.
"The Global Battle of the Bands is an opportunity that is worth taking."
Flawless Productions is handling light, stage and sound for the three local legs of the Global Battle of the Bands.
