Ethos Magazine will hold its sixth annual Bandest of the Bands at the WOW Hall on Feb. 13 to determine which band is truly is the bandest.
The competitors are Dr. Rocket, YamaYama, Face for Radio, Human Ottoman, Mellow Yellow and the Zendeavors. The winner gets coverage from University of Oregon campus radio station KWVA and a guaranteed spot at the 2015 Campus Block Party lineup.
YamaYama is a group composed of veteran musicians, including session musicians and members of the long-running Eugene soul band The Essentials. This is YamaYama’s first Bandest of the Bands, but the band members are not concerned about competition; they’re mostly in it for the show.
“I think, personally, that the idea of music as a competition is kind of silly,” said drummer Merlin Showalter. “But I think it’s gonna be a great showcase of great local music. I hope people will like it and we’ll make as many fans as possible.”
Eugene glam rock duo Dr. Rocket has been playing shows around town since 2013, and this is also their first Bandest of the Bands. But unlike YamaYama, they’re in it to win.
“Dr. Rocket is out for blood,” said singer-guitarist Nick Carver.
Though they’re relatively green, they’re not worried about being pitted against Bandest of the Bands veterans Face for Radio and the Zendeavors.
“They haven’t won,” said Carver. But they’re going to be facing formidable competition.
The Zendeavors came in second place in the previous Bandest of the Bands, losing to Pluto the Planet. But as recent UO grads, the Zendeavors have spent ample time honing its sound in Portland and in Roseburg, where it has a once-a-month residency at Latin restaurant Salud.
Though singer-guitarist Andrew Rogers and bassist Andrew Poletto have decamped to Portland, drummer Jason Miller and saxophonist Ted Schera remain in Eugene. That hasn’t stopped them.
“We go up to Portland, Ted and I, find a free weekend,” said drummer Jason Miller. “We’ll play seven hours Saturday, seven hours Sunday, play a show on Sunday, then Ted and I just roll back.”
Rogers describes their practice sessions as “boot camps,” and this applies to their as-yet-untitled upcoming debut album as well. The members spent the entire Super Bowl arranging one of their songs.
“It’s nice that all four of us are super driven and have a coherent sound,” said Rogers. “We have a more cohesive vision artistically and in terms of what we want to accomplish.”
But are they in it to win?
“We’re in this to win,” said Rogers. “Also to dance. Mainly to win, though. We’re big on the dancing, too.”
Bandest of the Bands takes place Thursday, Feb. 13 at the WOW Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Tickets $3 in advance, $5 at the door.