Collegiate Times

Tonight, the first of a series of three musical battles kicks off at 8:30 p.m. at Attitudes Bar and Cafe.

The series involves three sets of four bands playing against each other for the crowning honor of "Best Band of the Month." The battle culminates in a final "play-off" on April 18 of the best unsigned bands the Blacksburg area has to offer.

The competition is somewhat spread out, with each round taking place near the end of each of the upcoming months. However, each show promises to be a quick break from the drudgery of academia and wind-whipped walks across campus. It's organized like a track meet, with each round similar to a "heat," and with the winners of each heat invited back to the show in mid-April to compete for the honor of being the best musical gladiator in the area.

The winner of each heat also receives a cut of the door money for the night, an opportunity to record at Sweet Eddie's Recording Studio and a gift certificate to Rocket Eddie's.

As the Battle of the Bands approaches, a general sense of excitement pervades the employees at Attitudes.

"It definitely brings in a newer, younger crowd that not only brings in business, but also provides a venue for live music, which are few and far between around here," Chris Hixon, Attitudes employee, said.

The kick-off line up consists of All Kinds of Gravity, Electric Chameleon, Steeltame and The Avenue.

All Kinds of Gravity has been playing together since last December, though the members say they've been thoroughly obsessed with music for years. Its sound is unique in that it blends hip-hop and rock, with violinist Chris Gustin, who is also a columnist for the Collegiate Times, taking the place of the lead guitar.

"We try to draw from a variety of influences and bring those out in our music," Gustin said. "We're into a lot of different stuff, music-wise, so we try not to lock into any one thing. We follow a lot of the bands that blend rock and hip-hop, like Linkin Park and Rage Against the Machine, but we're into the ambient, more chill kind of bands, too, like Incubus."

All Kinds of Gravity hasn't recorded any demos yet, but they hope to turn something out within the next couple of months. A win tonight would no doubt help them move forward.

Electric Chameleon is a Roanoke-based band, coming down to show off its chilled, soulful take on rock. They've been playing together since early 2006, but guitarist Joey Dennis and bassist Scott Crandall have been friends and jam companions since middle school, which makes for a comfortable dynamic between the lead and the rhythm. With influences such as Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin and Dave Matthews Band, Dennis describes Electric Chameleon as "rock-soul-reggae." No stranger to the recording studio, the band has put out multiple EPs, the majority of which are reserved for club owners, but crossed fingers and a professional demeanor could possibly earn you one as well.

The Avenue is a Harrisonburg-based ensemble with a quasi-tumultuous past -- the life decisions of youth inevitably interfering with the delicate dynamic of music making. The original bass player left for a wife and a military career, while the drummer found books better than beats, and focused solely on academia.

So, those two positions are currently filled by new-comers to the band, who they hope will be more of a boon than a hindrance to their stage presence and dynamic. With influences such as Thrice, Taking Back Sunday and Incubus shaping its tunes, The Avenue should be a high-energy contrast to the down-tempo musings of Electric Chameleon, and the uber-fusion hum of All Kinds of Gravity.

Since Tuesdays are typically pretty low-key, why not spur yourself to a venue rife with electricity and music? It's the beginning of a contest, and as a society enraptured with reality television, who wouldn't want to witness some real-life competition close to home?