BC’s Best Teen Band Finalists Put on a Stellar Show

Photo: Coquitlam/New West rock band The Knots, winner of BC's Best Teen Band contest

Who hasn’t, at some point or another, wanted to be a rock star? Artists from ACDC to Kiss, and Joan Jett to Nickelback, sing about the infamous life of rebellion that has tempted daydreaming teens since the birth of the garage band. And on Saturday, May 1st, three teenage bands had their chance to make dreams reality, at the finale of BC’s Best Teen Band contest.

After over 50 bands and every genre imaginable entered the contest back in October, the competition culminated with a live showdown at the Tom Lee Music Hall in downtown Vancouver, where the three finalists, The Knots, Split the Silence and High Life Scenery performed to a full house of over 200 fans. After each band performed their four song set (including one mandatory cover of a song by a Canadian artist), a panel of industry professionals declared The Knots BC’s Best Teen Band, with Split the Silence as the first runner up, and High Life Scenery coming in third place.

Doors opened at 2:00pm, but the day started around 10:00 that morning for the bands, who arrived early for sound check and a meet and greet with industry professionals. Sitting in on their sound check, it was hard to believe the musicians weren’t already seasoned professionals; but chatting with them during the meet and greet, they transformed into average teenage boys, teasing their bandmates about past relationships and discussing the delicate balance between school and band practice.

Split the Silence opened the show with their self-described “insightful, melodic and honest” music. Their wide range of musical influences, which range from local Kelowna band We Are the City to Bob Marley, The Beatles, Coldplay, and Death Cab for Cutie, showed through in their sound, which also draws influence from their jazz training. They played a range of songs, drawing inspiration from Vancouver’s downtown eastside and their bass player’s grade 9 girlfriend. The highlight of Split the Silence’s performance was their lyrical Song of A Thousand Words, which was met with thunderous applause as they exited the stage.

Next up was High Life Scenery, the Vancouver-Burnaby group who won the most online votes from fans on Youthink.ca. Their audience appeal was evident, as crowds immediately responded to their dramatic, smoke-machine-aided introduction, swarming the stage, arms raised, swaying back and forth to their rock-style cover of K’naan’s Wavin’ Flag. They closed their set with their popular Five Months No Progress, featuring background vocals by an audience of avid fans.

The Knots closed the show with their high-energy alt-indie rock. They opened their set acknowledging the talented bands that had preceded them, and then plunged into the music with a cover of the Arkells song, Deadlines. This was followed by On the Outside, the same song they’d originally applied for the competition with, via YouTube video, back in November.

Before coming onstage, The Knots declared that this performance would be about the music, not about the competition. It was this clear passion for what they do that led them to winning the title of BC’s Best Teen Band.

In the end, all three bands left with prizes, pride and a promise to play together again soon.

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

PRESS RELEASE: YOUTHINK MAGAZINE & TOM LEE MUSIC ANNOUNCE WINNER OF BC’S BEST TEEN BAND CONTEST

(Vancouver, BC) May 3, 2010 – Coquitlam/New West rock band The Knots has won the title of BC’s Best Teen Band!

On May 1, 2010, the Top 3 finalists performed live at Tom Lee Music Hall in downtown Vancouver to compete for the title of BC’s Best Teen Band. All three bands put on an amazing show, but the judges made the tough decision of selecting The Knots as BC’s Best Teen Band.

Congratulations to the other finalists:

2nd place: Split the Silence, a progressive indie-rock band Kelowna

3rd place: High Life Scenery, a pop punk-rock band from Burnaby/Vancouver

In October 2009, Youthink magazine partnered up with Tom Lee Music to showcase the musical talent of BC’s youth. Over 50 bands from every corner of BC (Prince George, Victoria, Kelowna, Vancouver and more) and every genre (hip hop, rock, pop and numerous others) submitted a YouTube video of themselves playing an original song.

In December 2009, those 50 contestants were narrowed down to a Top 10 by a panel of industry judges. Youthink’s online community then had a chance to voice their opinion, and, through their votes, they selected the Top 3.

PRIZES

As winners, The Knots will/have receive(d) amazing prizes including:

o $500 in gift certificates from Tom Lee Music, a Yamaha drum kit + a free rental of Tom Lee Music Hall for a concert

o Recording of one single by Jay Evjen (Hot Hot Heat, Incura, Motion Soundtrack) of Juicemix Productions at The Factory Studios in Vancouver

o A one-day songwriting session with Shaun Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason

o A photo shoot with photographer Adam Blasberg, art director Ben Oliver and stylist Alecia Ebbels

o A marketing consultation with White Tide Entertainment

The Top 3 bands will have/receive(d):

o A video of the final performance at Tom Lee Music Hall

o A media training session/copyright workshop with the editors of Youthink Magazine and Terry O’Brien of SOCAN

o Music BC memberships

o Publicity in Youthink magazine/Youthink.ca

Media Contact

Joanne Sammons, Canada Wide Media, jsammons@canadawide.com