Dreaming New Animals + The Deads + Cracking Amy + Golden Section - Walkabout, Portsmouth. 22/03/06.

Tonight is a Battle Of The Bands competition being run by the Walkabout chain of Australian themed bars and Jack Daniels with the ultimate winner getting a trip to America and the chance to record in Sun Studios. Now, I have to admit, I've avoided BOTB type things until now but the chap organising this was given my number and I was invited along to be a judge with the promise of a couple of beers so I thought, why not! There is only one local heat followed by a regional heat, semi final then final at Sheperds Bush Empire so the bands have a good chance of progressing; so, a couple of beers downed and I take up position with my piece of paper where I have to mark the bands out of 10 for various categories which is a little strange but oddly focussing.

Golden Section have drawn the short straw and get to go on first, at this point the crowd are still well back from the stage and they miss out on the curious regulars who check some of the music out later on. However, Golden Section are a young bunch brimming with confidence and their catchy tunes make an immediate impact on those that have arrived early enough. They have a new wave edge, pulsing synth lines that underpin interesting bass lines with plenty of guitar action causing mayhem on top of their dramatic pop edge that is slightly dark around the edges. The vocals sound as if they have been plucked straight from the 80s but adds to their electro indie sound that sounds both old but original. A band that I would gladly check out at a proper gig where they have longer to perform.

Riding in on a wave of pop punk are Cracking Amy who appear to have a few fans in so they get good marks for crowd reaction! Unfortunately they score low on originality as one song blends into another and they begin to sound just like every other pop punk band out there. They are obviously influenced by that whole wave of American 'punk' bands that are not very punk but do produce pop music by the bucket load and that is where the problem lies with Cracking Amy live, little of the material sounds inspiring or original and while they play with gusto and dedication the music just lacks that sparkle.

Coming on like a punked up version of the early Rolling Stones, The Deads steal the show so far with their pumped up, tambourine bashing frontman stealing the show as he pouts, struts and delivers a fine set of soulful vocals backed up by the garage rock n roll of his band. Musically they are spot on tonight as the energy flows from the stage and while they may draw heavily on their influences they manage to deliver a set of original sounding tunes that are passionate and in your face. The best so far tonight.

Rounding the show off and trying to out do The Deads are progressive psychedelic wanderers Dreaming New Animals. By the time they take to the stage they have lost some of the crowd so lack some of that interaction; on their day, DNA can produce stunning sets but as tonight progresses it becomes apparent that the time limit is holding them back. Whereas normally they would allow the tunes to wander off at tangents, tonight they focus it down and the tunes suffer as a result, the normal free flow seems to stutter and while they still do a reasonable set it becomes clear that it isn't going to be their night and I think they realise it as they leave the stage.

A few minutes later and the scores have been added up and The Deads are announced as winners and I think on reflection that the best band did indeed win tonight. So well done to them and thanks to Rich at Walkabout for inviting me down, it was an interesting experience and I hope The Deads progress through the following rounds.