Arts Entertainment AND
THE JUDGES’ TAKE
BRIAN CHILSON
GRAYSON SHELTON “I’m a sucker for a great drummer. They’re the heartbeat and energy of your show. I can imagine it’s tough to keep a completely instrumental set moving and engaging. They did a great job with dynamics to keep it fresh and keep my attention.”
ROUND 5 WINNER: Sound of the Mountain.
It’s time for the finals
MANDY MCBRYDE “Their music evokes such emotion. It’s like watching a masterpiece fly through the room in soundwaves, or that scene in a really great movie when you go ‘Oh shit. This is what’s really happening.’ ”
Sound of the Mountain wins Round 5. BY ROBERT BELL
A
fter five weeks and performances by 20 bands from all corners of the state, we’re down to the finals for the 2013 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase. In keeping with the Ancient Protocols of the Council of Showcase Elders, we’ll be moving down the street to Revolution for the final round, which will be this Friday at 9 p.m. It’s all-ages, $5 for those of legal drinking age and $10 for those 20 and younger. The winning band will be announced that night and, in addition to all the goodwill, glory and approbation, 42
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
ARKANSAS TIMES
that band will net beaucoup prizes and the opportunity to perform on some of the state’s biggest and most high-profile stages. Also, we’re giving away several pairs of passes to several music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Wakarusa and Thunder on the Mountain. You must be present to win, so don’t skip it. Russellville’s The Sound of the Mountain won Round 5 of the Showcase with swirling instrumental postrock that was by turns powerful, loud, dynamic and sweepingly cinematic. That
last description is especially apt, as more than one judge referenced movies on their score sheets. Also: it never hurts when your drummer is a stone-cold badass, as is the case with Sound of the Mountain. But it was excellent musicianship all the way around. Up first was Fayetteville’s Bartin Memberg, a.k.a. Martin Bemberg, formerly of The Memphis Pencils and an incredibly prolific solo artist. Bemberg had a bit of trouble at first getting his CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
CT “Total pros. They have their shit together. Sweet tones and awesome transitions. This needs to be the musical score to my life.” GUEST JUDGE EUGENE WHITMORE “I like the intro, well-rehearsed, very spontaneous.”