Alberta’s Last Band Standing started out with 72 bands competing for a $50,000 prize package. The full-throttle battle of the bands, where only the toughest survive, has only seven groups remaining.
As of the Gazette’s press deadline, Oldbury (Red Deer), Five Years Further (Edmonton), Heaviside (Rocky Mountain House), R.C. Sindicate (Edmonton) and St. Albert’s own All Else Fails have won a berth for the final battle tonight at The Taphouse.
The $50,000 first place prize package includes $5,000 in cash, a scholarship to Pixel Blue College, website design and development, three days of recording time at Powersound Studios with Trevor Hurst of Econoline Crush, and a four-week Canadian tour. They also will headline at the Boonstock kick off party on Thursday, June 24.
In a telephone interview from his British Columbia home, Hurst laughingly admitted it’s odd to view himself as a prize.
“It’s weird, but it’s exciting too. In my early career I was a singer. Now I’m a producer, too, and it’s like an energy drink. When you see the faces of these young artists and they see where it’s going, it’s exciting.”
Throughout the 10-week competition, small surprises occurred. Five Years Further originally received the boot, but as a wildcard band they were given a second invitation to duke it out in the semi-finals.
“They were a good band and we felt they deserved a second chance,” explains marketing and promotions director Lyndon Golanowski. At the semi-finals on Wednesday, “they played tighter than the last time. They had more energy. They gave it 110 per cent. They were jumping, screaming their lungs out and connecting with the crowd.”
Another band that caused a bit of a stir was St. Albert’s Wednesday Morning Blues. “They set the record for bringing in the highest number of people. They easily brought in 100. Most bands bring in about 30 people. But when someone brings in 100, you go ‘whoa.’”
Eight celebrity judges will adjudicate. They include Hurst, Tyler Dianocky from Tupelo Honey, Morgan Geis from Social Code, Boonstock producer Colin Kobza and four sponsors.
As the competition is winding down, there’s the excitement and adrenalin flowing from the winners. But the hardest thing is dealing with losing.
“You get to know the guys and you develop a relationship. You become good friends. You become almost like a family and when you are let go, it’s hard to see friends get hurt,” Golanowski said.
Kobza will also host a Boonstock ticket giveaway and the evening will close with a special appearance by Longwaydown. “We want to end early so everybody can party.”
The Taphouse is located at 9020 McKenney Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Cover is $15.
