By NICK SMITH
Damien has the best scream this side of Fay Wray. It's a startling explosion of sound from the Blind Spott lead singer, stretching for tens of seconds and stiffening the audience's spine.
His foul-mouthed invective that follows causes listeners to almost recoil, like a racing bike has surprisingly overtaken them on the inside lane. Damien's outburst is serious emoting, reminiscent of Chris Matthews during the early Headless Chickens gigs. He's angry, like only the young can be.
Blind Spott were a revelation at the Kings Arms, the site for the Battle of the Bands Auckland regional final last Wednesday. And not just because of the flash label club-clobber, the backwards caps and turntable.
This five-piece, who have made it through to the national finals to be held at the Powerstation this Friday, are different from the other bands. They created a dense, difficult sound that overpowered the Kings Arms sound system during the regionals.
Think dark American metal merchants Warrior Soul, evil guitar and sonorous, lyrical chanting and rapping, interspersed with more than the occasional stream of obscenities, all mixed with many other influences.
Surprising, stroppy and blessed with creativity behind the turntable, Blind Spott make compelling listening and watching.
Battle of the Bands competitions can produce variable musical results but on the final night the standard is usually excellent. You would also be hard-pressed to attend a gig where the bands hit the stage with as much energy and rip-snorting enthusiasm as at these competitions. They really are playing like their lives depend on the result.
Previous winners of this competition, now in its eighth year, include Tadpole, whose debut album The Buddhafinger has gone gold and peaked at No 2 in the charts.
Part of Tadpole's success can be attributed to the single they recorded following their 1995 win, the same grand prize to be awarded this Friday when the eight regional winners from Christchurch to Whangerei battle it out for tangible reward. Equipment prizes are also up for grabs, including a selection of Marshall amps and Ibanez guitars.
Organiser Andrew Featherstone is effusive about the talent gracing the music scene at present which, after a few barren years, is beginning to flourish.
"I think it's fantastic to see all the other local bands starting to sell good numbers of records," he says.
Provided they put in the hard work, some of the Battle of the Bands acts are ready to step up and challenge the Tadpoles, Zeds, Wetas and Fur Patrols who're enjoying success.
"[The competition] is a good launching pad but it's up to the bands to treat it as a career," says Featherstone. "They have to be highly motivated to make it. This is a helping hand, but you have to have the right attitude."
There's no doubt Blind Spott have an attitude about them and doubting Thomases should head along to the Powerstation and be prepared to be surprised.
* Battle of the Bands national final, Powerstation, Friday September 15.
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