Battle of the Bands

[Combat Chuck]

Pliedes has issued two true statements folks.

First off, Thousand Seasons did get screwed over. The reason why people have been saying that they have been in it a while, is because they've been performing since around last summer. I know that Ingsoc has been formed for a while, but since they haven't played any shows, they haven't been considered as part of the 'local scene', if you can call it that.

Second off, this year's Battle Of The Bands was nothing compared to last year's. Last year had a variety of different sounds and styles, and was truly something to behold. This year there was alot of newer talent, and it was obvious that many of the bands hadn't yet gotten the feel of performing together on stage.

Thanks to all that supported Barefoot At The Opera, or at least commented on the show. I don't care if you voted for us or not, but thanks for the remarks. Anything is welcome. Even negative comments. You didn't like us? Tell me. I'd be happy to hear what you felt could be improved, or like punk_afi, that you just didn't like the style.

Thanks to all, and let's keep this going.

[rla128]

One comment I'd like to make out Barefoot at the Opera was I sure could have seen some Coldplay covers coming from you guys, especially Chuck with the keyboard and all. Just a suggestion, however. I think you guys do have potential, you just need to practice a lot more to get a better feel for how to do the songs just right. You had so much talent, but it just didn't seem to come together and become the awesomeness that it could have. I guess the saying, "practice makes perfect" applies here. Kudos for the excellent effort, though.

[This message has been edited by rla128 (edited April 19, 2003).]

[Arsenic]

I think that barefoot at the oprea was defiantly the most talented band there. Chuck and Skyler are some of the best singers in the school, and are great musicians. And Green, well lets see, he is just phenomenal at the guitar. I just think that they didn't play the right kind of concert music. They played all of my favorite songs but most people don't enjoy Guster and those kind of emo. songs.

But on a good note radiohead fucken rocked.

[Combat Chuck]

Thank you to both you guys for the positive comments.

rla128 - You are incredibly on the spot with the whole 'practice makes perfect' statement, because we certainly didn't get the amount of practice that we should have. It's incredibly hard to get 5 involved guys to have free time on weekdays and not be busy on weekends as well. I really wasn't feeling confident about the performance until the Tuesday before soundcheck. It was cutting it close.

As far as the whole Coldplay thing....wow. If we could pull something like that off, it'd be one of the greatest accomplishments of my highschool career. I could only dream of playing the piano parts to those songs. If I really sat down and tried, I'm sure I could do them....by themselves. But singing and playing the pianah....that's a different story. However, if we could get a keyboardist.....I'm really truly thinking of seeing what we can come up with. I'm a huge Coldplay fan, and this would be huge.

Arsenic - Thanks for the Radiohead props. I personally think that song is amazing, and I loved being able to present it to the school. And you're right, the set wasn't the most accessible, but that's why I chose it. To bring something different to the scene. I knew it'd just dig our hole even deeper, but I didn't care. I felt it was a privilege to play Guster in front of such a big crowd, and Pete Yorn, Radiohead, Dispatch. All are great bands that deserve play as well, just usually don't get them because they aren't as accessible. Well, fuck that, we're going to bring it to Warsaw whether they fucking like it or not.

So that's my philosophy on that. And thanks again for the comments.

[rla128]

Another comment... didn't you people ever do sound checks or anything? There was way too much feedback going on, and half the time people's instruments were way too loud or too soft. Well, whatever. I don't remember Barefoot being that bad, but with 2nd Rate Masterpiece, for example, the acoustic action going on just couldn't be heard like it should have.

[This message has been edited by rla128 (edited April 20, 2003).]

[Combat Chuck]

Yeah, we did sound check's, but I'm really not sure on how effective they were. The only good thing that came out of it was that we found out that our vocals were too soft.

Which was good, I guess.

[Arsenic]

Ya I think coldplay songs would be really cool to see you guys perform sometime. There are a lot of Pianists out there that would be more than happy to help you out.

[BigDongedHoe]

This will be BigDongedHoe's personal recap of every band there.

Barefoot at the Opera: In my opinion one of the most talented bands there. I'm also a very big dispatch/pete yorn fan so that was a thrill for me to here somebody playing it. I just like how you guys used a lot of different instruments with the keyboard and such. Idiotecque would be a song that is nearly impossible to cover and you guys did a great job of it. If I had to rank them I would put them in 2cnd.

A Thousand Seasons: I'm not a big fan of the whole hardcore punk or really any punk for that matter. However, I really felt they were a very good band. Jetter is a great singer and they really did a fine job of performing. I have to say that they definitely had there stuff together and got screwed on the voting. I would put them in 3rd simply because I didn't really enjoy there music but you could tell they were a well rounded band.

Ingsoc: I really didn't enjoy this band at all. In fact I would almost dare to say that they were my top 2 least favorite. First of all Lugo was not that great of a singer and there songs weren't really all that well performed. The music wasn't crisp and was actually cluttered for the most part. I thought there style once again did not fit the style that usual goes along for battle of the bands. With all that being said there were a bunch of middle schoolers there that did vote for Ingsoc which is total bullshit. They weren't talented, did not perform well, and also were trying to give themselves that "look at me I'm a badass that can disagree with the government". Regardless of what punk_afi says the first song was made to draw attention and make himself look "different" when in reality it made him look stupid. Speaking from a music standpoint I put them 5th.

The IVY League: I don't know what it was about this band that made me not like them. It may of been the fact that they were 4th and followed two hardcore punk acts. I just didn't feel them at all even though they were some what talented. The music selection was kind of weak but overall they weren't bad. I would place them 4th.

La Madamma Lucille: The name being gay gives insite into how truely bad they were. I realize they did this to be funny but it was a waste of time to even listen....last place by a longshot

2cnd Rate Masterpiece: This band gets my 1st place vote and trust me folks it's not a popularity vote. It's not so much even that they were good because in all reality they weren't that great but the selection of music is what battle of the bands is all about to me. They picked the verve pipe-freshman. A very, very hard song to cover. You noticed there were three people singing on the mic basically encouraging the crowd to join in. Being able to sing along with the song and get into the music with them is what really captures the vote. It's like the Mad Cowboys last year although they were extremely talented they played songs everybody knew and had fun singing along with. Just like Along 66 the years before. They also played Red Hot Chilli Peppers-Under the Bridge as well as Foo Fighters-Everlong. They just had great selection and it made it fun as a crowd member to listen to and sing along with.

BDH's Final Rankings:
1. 2cnd Rate Masterpiece
2. Barefoot at the Opera
3. A Thousand Seasons
4. The IVY League
5. Ingsoc
6. La Madamma Lucille

BDH, I think everyone here appreciates your taking the time to critique and rate every band. I think you summed up a lot of people's feelings towards many of the bands...

[Rufus]

I just want to comment that ingsoc sucked so much it gave me a headache. By the time the botb got to ingsoc i just wanted to leave. Their music was annoying and shitty. Lugo is an idiot and the first song made him look like an idiot. On my last note i would like to say that i voted for barefoot at the opera.

[Titan]

BDH, although I'm thankful that you wrote a crisp review of the show (I was unable to attend) I'm saddened that, instead of wanting to hear original songs from up&coming bands which hope to continue the growth and development of the music scene (which is necessary if you want to be hearing new music twenty years from now), especially in your hometown, you would rather satiate your want to hear songs already in existence that are done by bands that can play them ten times better... or do you not have a stereo and CDs at home?

[buckeye]

Ingsoc, was fucking pathetic. First off their dumbass singer with the "Allah bless America", is the most politically illogical, and hypocritical tree hugger i've ever met. I was informed the next day in class that this little shit took the day off for good friday. Knowing this a certain teacher asked him why he wore that shirt if he is christian. The political analyst replied, "It's politically correct"

Now perhaps a little examination of his shirt will shed some light on the corropted thinking of this somewhat lacking political mind. If i'm not mistaken one of the main justifications for the attack on the twin towers was infact Allah. Now by being "politically correct" by saying "Allah bless America" you're supporting the cause behind the deaths of over 4,000 Americans. I'm glad that their deaths make you politically correct, afterall its not like your reglion gives you a reason to wear a shirt like that. If you want to do something to show that opinions are protected in America for godsake, join something like a gay activist group. I think you'd fit right in, in the meantime i think the U.S. Army should license your music to scare the Taliban out of their caves.

[BigDongedHoe]

I was simply saying that I enjoyed listening to songs I already knew rather than stuff nobody knew. I like new music and I like to listen to it but I think bands that do cover songs of other songs are ones that will win at BOTB nearly everytime. It's just a lot more fun to sing along with and know the words that they are going to sing. I thought I explained that in my review but maybe I didn't? I'm up for new music, I just didn't like listening to it at BOTB.

------------------
:::BDH:::

[Titan]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by buckeye:
If you want to do something to show that opinions are protected in America for godsake, join something like a gay activist group. I think you'd fit right in, in the meantime i think the U.S. Army should license your music to scare the Taliban out of their caves.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Big "L O L" on that one...
That's the best one I've heard all week...
Granted it's only monday, but still.

[punk_afi]

hello warsaw, this is robert lugo. first off, everyone has the wrong opinion of me. i am not at all anti-american. i am probably more patriotic than anyone talking trash on here. i care about the country and the people within it. i don't put on my patrioticism (if that's even a word) in the morning. it's always there. if anyone would have been paying attention to the lyrics and listened with an open mind, they'd have realized that the song "Allegiance to None" was a patriotic song, and it's PRO-AMERICA. i think the reason why it's recieved such bad criticism is because the critics feel guilty because the song attacks them or people like that (you've got a sticker of a flag, you've got an nyfd hat, you're more american than me 'cuz you act "patriotically, but don't give a damn about the country. that's the thing about you that disgusts me.) that should be a dead giveaway!. duh warsaw! about the shirt. you talk about the 4000 deaths of the 9/11 incident with such a passion, and are quick to point out that the attackers were of muslim faith. but you aren't quick to point out that shortly after fervent news coverage and investigation of the ordeal, many "patriotic" groups (and everyday working joes) were brutaly attacking muslim communities in large cities across the nation. (does anyone remember the holocaust?) all because of a few bad muslims. everyone should take the time to think with a clear and open mind, be a little more tolerant to new things. that's basically why we talk about what we do. you also fed into my hands. the first line (i used to get kicked outta class for not giving pledge to the flag, i wonder what they'd do to me if i praised allah publicly.") i wore the shirt to get reactions, obviously. well i got exactly what i wanted, you people make yourselves look stupid. just like those group of muslim'bashers, you are attacking me for being different. i am not at all sympathetic with any terrorist group or idea. i am merely trying to state that we promote jesus, but not allah, or any other god for that matter, when in fact we should because the usa does not solely consist of anglo-saxon christians. there are all types of people, and the separation of church and state sure seems to be infringed on god bless america. in a time when diversity is the enemy and anyone with a skintone is a possible enemy, the community and people of america are like nofx says "shutting their doors and closing their blinds...we are a country of mental midgets regaining unconsciousness." that's all, i gotta go practice with my pro-america, pro-diversity, pro-tolerance, and open-minded band. later warsaw, see you on the 25th, and be sure to check out our debut of our song "Murder of A Generation" in memory of David Fribley. My condolences to any of his friends or family who might read this, even though i never knew him.
- 121376

[BigDongedHoe]

Lugo, thank you for posting but you must realize your a walking contradiction. Your lyrics, actions, and words are all contradictions of each other. Personally I think every word you said there was a bunch of bullshit. You won't gain "respect" but merely get a negative reaction because everything you say is one huge contradiction. I don't claim to be more or less patriotic than the person next to me but I can tell you that I am in full support of the war and that most anti-war activists are only protesting to have people notice them and give them attention. The reason you wore that shirt and sang what you did was not because of what you felt, but simply to get a reaction and that's what your getting. One way or another I hope you like being looked down upon and then you can blame it on people not being open-minded. Look at what you said and what you did and maybe you'll understand why people judge. To say we are stupid? I'm sorry but someone who contradicts themself and did what you did are "stupid" in my book.

------------------
:::BDH:::

[Arsenic]

Wow, holy shit wow. I sat in my chair with my mouth open for like a minute after reading that. That is one hell of of a speech. Good work Punk, that had a lot of good points to it. I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you on that one.

[Titan]

Dear Mr. Lugo,
When you do things in order to get reactions, please be prepared to take the consequences that come your way. Being the intelligent open-minded person you are, you know that obviously not everyone is going to be tolerant of your actions, or else you obviously wouldn't get the response you were looking for. It was good of you to try and clear up your reasonings and what-not, but, again, being the open-minded person you are, you should be tolerant of the fact that not everyone is as open-minded as you. Being aware of others' rights to practice their own thought processes is part of being open-minded. If you expect everyone to follow suit and also be open-minded, then you are not being open-minded yourself. Please keep these things in mind as you continue your journey of open-minded-ness. Thank you and rock on.
-Titan Treef***er

[buckeye]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by punk_afi:

i am not at all anti-american. i am probably more patriotic than anyone talking trash on here. i care about the country and the people within it. i don't put on my patrioticism (if that's even a word) in the morning. it's always there.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well your overwhelming intellect is too much for me to handle, you've have no idea who any of the people on here are, and already begin to stereotype them. I don’t think anyone on here jumped on the patriotic band wagon; however we sure as hell didn’t jump on the "Allah Bless America" wagon. I would consider veterans to be the most patriotic people there are, and they sure as hell don’t wear shirts like that, and if I remember correctly i don’t either. If you truly care about the people in this country a shirt like "Buddha bless America" would be more suiting for the situation. It would still express your views, and wouldn’t piss on 4,000 people that died because of some towel head that wanted to kill them in Allah's name.


<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by punk_afi:

if anyone would have been paying attention to the lyrics and listened with an open mind, they'd have realized that the song "Allegiance to None" was a patriotic song, and it's PRO-AMERICA. i think the reason why it's recieved such bad criticism is because the critics feel guilty because the song attacks them or people like that (you've got a sticker of a flag, you've got an nyfd hat, you're more american than me 'cuz you act "patriotically, but don't give a damn about the country. that's the thing about you that disgusts me.) that should be a dead giveaway!. duh warsaw!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Pro American????? Yep so using that logic, if you have no allegiance to America (or to nobody) Osma would be America's biggest patriot. As for the sticker sporting anti-Americans, yes it's sick that they are jumping on the "patriotic" bandwagon, but how sick when compared to a kid wearing an "Allah Bless America" shirt. I rest my case.


<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by punk_afi:

about the shirt. you talk about the 4000 deaths of the 9/11 incident with such a passion, and are quick to point out that the attackers were of muslim faith. but you aren't quick to point out that shortly after fervent news coverage and investigation of the ordeal, many "patriotic" groups (and everyday working joes) were brutaly attacking muslim communities in large cities across the nation.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

American Deaths from 911: 4,000 +
Muslim deaths from Americans pissed off by 911: 0? 1?

You're too easy to forget just how pissed off people were by the attacks, they just took their anger out in the wrong way. But at least they didn’t strap themselves with C4 and run into a crowd of Muslims.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by punk_afi:

(does anyone remember the holocaust?)
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Obviously you don't, read up on your history. Muslims aren't fleeing the country by the thousands, nor are they being sent to concentration camps, and if I recall correctly 6 million haven’t been executed.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by punk_afi:

you also fed into my hands. the first line (i used to get kicked outta class for not giving pledge to the flag, i wonder what they'd do to me if i praised allah publicly.") i wore the shirt to get reactions, obviously. well i got exactly what i wanted, you people make yourselves look stupid..... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tell you what shit face, if you are wont say the Pledge of Allegiance because the word "God" is in it, how bout you boycott all money also. After all not everyone in this country believes in god, yet they still use our money. So why not bitch about our money also? Stop using it; it has the word God on it. Until you do, you're just another hypocritical protestor, and a whiny little bitch, who only wants to complain about something that doesn’t hinder his life in any way.


<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by punk_afi:

that's all, i gotta go practice with my pro-america, pro-diversity, pro-tolerance, and open-minded band. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yep, good idea for two reasons.

1. Your band sucks, your music sucks, you obviously need the practice.
2. Your arguments are flawed, illogical, and above all obnoxious, and unpatriotic.



[This message has been edited by buckeye (edited April 21, 2003).]

[Mister Opinion]

I have been reading the posts about the battle of the bands from the seraphim, a thousand seasons and nubblies board. I am not pleased with a lot of the posting going on by some people. I don't think any of these bands got together to try to get the money. Its not really about that, its about going up there, playing your hearts out and having a great time. This years battle of bands was not the greatest. Although there were a couple talented bands, I don't understand why everyone is going punk. I'm not really interested in punk music. Most punk isn't geniune. Its not that good of a style, a lot is unorganized and just untalented. If I'm going to listen to a band, I listen for uniquenss, talent, lyrics, and there sound. When it comes to punk, things lack in those areas. But there are always exceptions. I mean look at the people who attended, they were all middle schoolers. This has been the 4th battle of the bands I've went to, and the audience was never like they were thursday. It was basically people you would see attend a punk show. It was pathetic. About the lyrics in some of the ingsoc songs... I don't think any person really in there right mind would agree with the words of the first song and would agree they should have played it. It was not approiate to play it. I'm reading a lot about "real" bands are the ones that should play. You shouldn't have to be a "real" band to not get critism like I'm seeing. Its about going up there and having a good time, who cares if you just got a band together to play... that doesn't mean that they are just for the money. Maybe they wanted to take there talent and play for the crowd. Obviously the voting is not going to be fair, that's what happens when the audience votes. Its more about who's friends with who. Even though is frustrating, its going to happen and will happen, but that's just life. That's my input, now for the critics...

[Titan]

Buckeye-

That was grade A quality shit, holy shit.
I haven't such a great rebutle in quite the long while.

[Ugly Bastard]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Titan:
rebutle<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

rebuttal*

How about that for a rebuttal, Titan?

-------------------------------------------

buckeye, I about cremed my pants reading your post. WONDER-FUCKING-FUL points. I'll be interested in the young man's rebuttal.

-Ugly Bastard

[This message has been edited by Ugly Bastard (edited April 21, 2003).]

[Niger Angelus]

Wow. Great work once again buckeye. Any replies??

[Combat Chuck]

And I haven't seen that great of a rebuttal in a long time.

Just continuing the UB/Orgazmo tradition.

Anyway, I'm glad that Lugo did have the balls to post on here, but as BDH said, it was one big contradiction.

But what the hell, who are we to stop him? Seriously, us reaming the shit out of him won't affect anything in his head, although it does give us pleasure to enact the reaming.

I don't know, I'm tired right now, maybe I'll put together a analysis of my own sometime.

Oh, and BDH, thanks for the play by play look from your eyes on the BotB. Good to hear.

[punk_afi]

again this is robert (on joel's name), ive got something to clear up yet again. some moron said i tried to kill my mom. what the hell? that's the stupidest thing ive ever heard. if it's any of your damn business (and it's not), my mom used to HATE me, and she has a mental illness, she used to call the cops on me for stuff i didn't do. now things are very different between us. i love my mom, do you love yours? anyways, if im such a predictable walking contradiction, then you can tell me how i contradict myself. i dont care about someone not liking the music i write, or the clothes i wear, so what. anyone can support a war they have no clue why it's being fought. sometimes it sounds like people are reciting what they say to me on my views, as if it's been constantly drilled into their heads. you speak of the right to free thought, well it doesn't sound like you think on your own to me. you don't have to think like me to think on your own. i never said anyone had to be even remotely like me. free thought comes in many forms. everyone should practice it, and practice trying to extend their range of thought. i never said you had to like me. i never said you had to like what i said. all i said was we close our minds when we should really open them. it's not just the critics, it's not just the fans, it's everyone. it's every human being. i think of the consequences of my actions way ahead of time, and i am prepared for them when i act them out. but i don't act out to get attention brought to myself. i act to bring attention to you, the listener/viewer. i only hope to trigger some spark in everyone's head that makes them truly think outside their comfy little lines they were taught not to color outside of. society creates barriers. i go around them. so should eveyone else, but whether or not they do is up to them. i just wanna be the person to cause them to TRULY think. it's easy to tell me what you read somewhere, it's easy to tell me what you overheard in daddy's conversations with his buddies during your childhood, it's easy to say what you hear on the news. it's easy to shutdown. well, in the real world outside of cozy little warsheezy, things are VERY different and shutting down will get you nowhere but bruised and battered in the alleys of america, or possibly even killed. noone wants that. just think outside your lines. expand your experiences, and seek the truth. anyone who looks down on that, i wish you luck for 10 years from now, you're gonna need it. i realized ahead of time not everyone is gonna be tolerant of what i say or do. look at what im doing. someone doesn't do stuff like that without thinking ahead. people fear what they do not understand and put up their defenses, be it talking trash, or pulling the trigger. well let's prevent some bullets ahead of time. at least im trying to make a positive change in people. my methods may be VERY unorthodox, but they get the point across. the cost of your freedom is at the expense of many young men throughtout history, so show some thanks, and make what they fought for worthwhile. they fought for the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, so don't just sit around and be told what to think. think your own thoughts, and find out why you think the way you do. you'll learn something from yourself and might find something you don't like. most people don't think about stuff like that for fear of realizing how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of the universe, but it is probably the only way to understand where i am coming from on this if you don't already. we humans aren't so human anymore, even with all the nice things science gives us. we reduce ourselves to savages in times of crisis. im here to disrupt the pond surface. it's up to you where the ripples take you. last note: my band members aren't me, and they don't think like me. don't treat them like you treat me, it's not fair to them to be looked down on because you (whoever you may be)look down on me. they are very talented musicians, and my best friends, but again they aren't me, so leave them out of this. attack me all you want, i get more inspiration from it, but they don't deserve some of the crap ive read or heard because of what ive done. that's all.
- 121376