Battle of the Bands Showdown
I’ll confess, I’m glad I didn’t get to vote.
My role in the vote count at Saturdays Battle of the Band Showdown prohibited me from using a wooden nickel to determine who would open this year’s Targhee Music Festival. And with each band bringing their a-game to the concert at the Spud, the choice was tough. It was a common dilemma among the 500+ attendees who were treated to the sounds of Burning Olympus, Jet Black Ninja Funkgrass Unit, Mandatory Air, LuNKuR and The Tie Hacks under the first nearly-clear sky Teton Valley had seen in over a week.
Remember what blue skies look like?
Mandatory Air
There were several techniques employed by voters to ensure voting anonymity, including the “look up there!” point-and-distract, the rapid sleight-of-hand and, probably the most popular, the “sending of the friend” to vote for them.
View of the 'ghee from the concert
LuNKuR provides a great sunset soundtrack
Pinedale's Tie Hacks close the show
In the end, it came down to a close spread between three favorite local bands, with Mandatory Air beating Jet Black Ninja Funkgrass Unit by a mere five votes. LuNKur was another handful of votes behind. The Tie Hacks out of Pinedale, WY and Burning Olympus of Provo, UT might have had to contend with the lack of local fans, but both put on awesome live performances and are worth checking out if you get the chance.
The Winners: Mandatory Air. See them at the Targhee Music Festival on July 16.
A big thanks to our judges, all who voted, and the talented bands who entered!
