The Lemonheads. The Carpenters. The Zombies.
They all have something in common: They competed in battle of the bands competitions before becoming well-known artists.
Of course, competing in a battle of the bands competition hardly guarantees a band will make it big, but it's certainly a good place to start.
Since early February, 17 Spokane groups composed of high school and middle school kids have been competing in Rock Club's Battle of the Bands. It all comes down to this Saturday's finale at the Players & Spectators Event Center in Spokane Valley where the last six bands remaining will compete for the crown.
For over a decade, Rock Club owner Sean Burgett has been teaching music lessons and encouraging young kids to pursue their dreams of playing on big stages in front of rowdy crowds. Every year, Burgett puts together an end-of-year recital showcasing all of the hard work his students have done, but he always wanted to take it a bit further for them.
"I used to play in battle of the bands in high school," Burgett says. "I just remember it being such a great starting point for us. We met so many other bands and started getting more shows off that and creating momentum from just that one thing."
In 2019, he successfully pulled off hosting his first battle of the bands competition at The Pin, a now-defunct venue in downtown Spokane. Members of the winning band from that year — Violet Ice — went on to form Vika & the Velvets, one of Spokane's most successful current groups, who've toured in California, Utah, Seattle and gained spots on festival lineups across the region.
This year's battle of the bands marks the first competition since 2019 and includes bands under Burgett's instruction at Rock Club and groups from outside that circle who wanted to test their chops. Since it's the first battle in six years, Burgett has tried to make it one that the bands and the audience will remember.
Burgett not only teaches his students how to play their instruments correctly and put on a proper show, he also teaches them about the music industry and how to be a part of a band.
"Ethics has been my main focus when working out how to deal with making money and hiring young and inexperienced bands," he says. "Ryan Levey from the Big Dipper/Monumental Booking has been a close planning partner."
The first four rounds of shows at the Big Dipper gave all 17 bands a chance to sell physical tickets and make a 2:1 split with the organizer, allowing them to earn money from pre-sales before any door sales are taken into account. Burgett says given the range of ages participating in the competition, it was important to hammer home how to operate independently as a band.
"Knowing what standards bands get paid by was key for me in making sure we were doing things in a way everyone could feel great about," Burgett says. "We wanted to teach young bands the way they deserve to be treated by people booking shows just as much as giving them a positive and constructive performance experience and a chance to win something cool."
The "something cool" in question is two days of studio time at J Bones Musicland, Jay Condiotti's dual studio and performance space in Spokane's East Central neighborhood.
Six bands — four winners and two wildcards — have earned their way to the final performance. Each group was judged by a different panel each night and will face one last panel at the final concert.
Burgett says that first-round winner Flyborne boasts extremely talented instrumentalists who have formed a tight band playing all original music. Round-two winner Dissonance is the youngest band among the finalists, and the all-ninth graders act plays original metal music.
The third week's winner was originally going by the name Brutal Creep but switched to Asphyxia after a judge said their name could use some work.
"That name lends itself to the traditional splattery metal logo more, I think," Burgett says.
The Monday Band, the fourth-week winner, hails from West Valley High School and is named after the students' after-school practice time slot.
The two wildcard bands — deemed the best of the bunch who did not win their respective weeks but earned an honorable mention from the judges — are Crimson Creek and Taking No Complaints.
Burgett says it's anyone's game going into the final show, but more than anything, he looks forward to seeing what each band does once the battle is over. One will head into the recording studio with its winnings, but many others will book local shows and continue playing music together long after the battle is over.
"The local music scene will always change and grow," he says. "These are the people that are going to take it over someday, and they're going to be standing on the shoulders of those that came before them. It's going to be a little bubble of magic." ♦
RockFest: Battle of the Bands Finals • Sat, March 22 from 5-10 pm • $15-$20 • Players & Spectators Event Center • 12828 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley • facebook.com/RockClubSpokane
