Unusable Signal performs for attendees at Battle of the Bands at Big Mama’s Karaoke Café in Seymour as the summer sun sets in the background. Photo by David Grimes
Summer is hot, and this summer is hotter than ever with the scorching sounds of Seymour’s Battle of the Bands, sponsored by Big Mama’s Karaoke Café, Tennessee Productions, Inc.’s family of businesses, and the South Knox • Seymour Times.
Saturday’s installment of the increasingly-popular contest saw more
hopefuls take the state-of-the-art outdoor stage at the Café in
Seymour, to compete for a slew of top-quality prizes to be awarded to
the best of two categories of bands.
The evening kicked off in high gear with the advent of Unusable Signal,
a six-piece rock/acoustic outfit comprised of Seymour natives. Led by
the guitar/vocal stylings of Chris Burgess and Cory Smith, glossed with
the keyboards of Justin Crisp and given foundation by Caitlin Smith on
bass and Marcus Finchum on drums, with Victoria O’Shields providing
backing vocals, the combo smoked through a set of covers and originals
with a spark that put smiles on the faces of the crowd, winding up in a
big way with “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and sparking cries of “more
cowbell!” from the audience.
Asked if they were excited about performing at Battle of the Bands,
guitarist/vocalist Cory Smith answered succinctly, “Heck, yes!”
Together for about three years, Unusable Signal had to bring in
newcomer 13-year-old Caitlin when their regular bassist could not make
the gig.
“We were really happy with it [our performance],” Cory Smith told the
Times afterward. “It’s always a joy to play together,” drummer Finchum
added. The band is currently recording a set of original compositions
for their first album.
Hard on the heels of Unusable Signal came Mr. Hank Sinatra and the Whole Family
led by Patrick Wilson. Sporting a variety of noms de music and a dress
sense straight out of 1950’s Las Vegas, the eclectic group featured
mostly acoustic instruments, including multiple percussion and brass.
With a very tight sound reminiscent of Elvis Costello,
the outfit played exclusively original compositions, save one cover, a
down-tempo version of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
The group hopes to be recording soon, and will try to capture the
energy of their live sound when they begin putting down tracks.
Battle of the Bands continues at Big Mama’s Karaoke Café every Saturday
throughout the summer, with another strong lineup of fresh names,
faces and sounds coming each weekend throughout August 25. To view
videos of each performing band, to vote for your favorites, to view
upcoming schedules or to sign up to compete, visit karaokecafe.com or link through the Times’ own website at skstimes.com.
Mr. Hank Sinatra croons for an appreciative audience during Saturday night’s installment of Battle of the Bands at Big Mama’s Karaoke Café in Seymour. Photo by David Grimes
