Vancouver’s best new bands will be battling it out this Friday as the long-running CiTR Shindig! battle-of-the-bands competition returns for its final round at Pat’s Pub.
For more than 30 years, Shindig! has been the best way to discover new music in Vancouver, with an alumni list that reads like a who’s-who of the local music scene: 3 Inches of Blood, Japandroids, You Say Party! We Say Die!, The Organ, War Baby, Maow and They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? to name a few.
“Lots of bands got their start with Shindig! and we’re pretty proud of that,” says host and organizer Ben Lai. “It’s super common for young bands for Shindig! to be their first live show.”
This year’s final marks the last time Lai will be quarterbacking the event. After 15 years, Lai is hanging up the trademark suit he wears to every Shindig! final to make way for the next host.
“Ideally, [the next host] is going to be someone who’s new and keen and young,” he says. “It’s time for some fresh energy.”
This year’s finalists include Late Spring, The Psychic Alliance and Wallgrin, and the stakes are high.
The winner earns a showcase at Canadian Music Week, a recording session with Rain City Recorders, free labour and repairs from Backline Musician Services, free merch, media coverage, and music industry mentorship from Nimbus Recording, as well as a night out on the town getting wined and dined by the people at Mint Records.
But just making it to the final round is a feat in itself. Every year, close to 100 bands apply to take part in Shindig!, with only 27 being chosen. Of those, nine bands make it through the preliminary round to compete in the three semifinals, the winners of each earning a spot in the final.
When it comes to musical genres, anything goes, and this year’s finals lineup is a great example of that. Late Spring could be best described as psychedelic noise rock, while The Psychic Alliance are unabashed pop weirdoes. Wallgrin, meanwhile, is a one-woman show relying on her violin, her voice and a host of looping pedals and effects.
“There’s usually something for everyone,” says Lai.
Judges will be looking for musicianship, originality, performance and songwriting, as well as that “X-factor” that sets some bands apart.
“Sometimes there’s just something about a band that’s not tangible,” he says.
Lai admits judging something as subjective as music is difficult and fraught with controversy. Some bands and their supporters haven’t been shy to voice their displeasure with the results.
“We’ve had near-riots some years,” says Lai. “There’s five judges, and they all have their own tastes, so we try to keep it diverse. But there’s a lot of luck involved too.”
However, one thing that always translates well, is performance.
“Stage presence is important,” says Lai. “Even if you don’t like the music, you can respect the performance.”
Shindig! Finals
The final round of CiTR’s Shindig! competition takes place Friday, Feb. 5, at Pat’s Pub (403 East Hastings). Doors open at 9am, cover is $6. 19+ only.
