Back in business

Hey high school kids ... that's right ... I'm talkin' to you.

Actually, I'm looking for high school kids who play in a rock band. It's an actual band ... you know, the kind with instruments and stuff. Drums? Guitars? Keyboards? Anything?

Sorry for the condescending tone, but nowadays when you say rock band everyone thinks about the game -- not an actual rock band.

That being said and since this is a blog for the Real. Texas. Festival., let me announce the return of the battle of the bands.

Any of you high school aged bands who didn't try to participate last year missed a good time. Well, actually, it was still this year. It was last April.

Anyway, The Neckties won the event and picked up a cool $500 for their efforts, as well as a performance slot in this year's battle of the bands.

There I go again ... it's not this year's battle, it's actually next year. Next festival anyway -- April 23 and 24, 2010.

But the folks closest to The Neckties will tell you that participating in the festival's battle of the bands event was a great little shot in the arm for them. They've been able to parlay their title into several bookings and gigs.

Would they have gotten those gigs anyway? Probably so. They're pretty good.

Still, it is nice to know that the Real. Texas. Festival. Battle of the Bands played a part in some success of one of its champions.

In 2010, we hope to have 8 new bands competing for the title. Again, the music can cover any genre. Everyone is welcome and all styles are accepted. The festival itself leans more toward the southern and country style, but the Battle of the Bands can and hopefully will feature grunge, metal, hip hop, rock, electronica, fusion, punk, Brit pop, thrash, alternative, Tejano, soul and, well, you get the idea.

Some bands may shy away from the festival's band battle because the members may feel it's all country. Rest assured, this is not the case.

The format will be basically the same. Applications and entry forms are due by March 31. A committee will audition the material, select the final eight and schedule an orientation meeting.

At that meeting (which will feature free food -- yeah buddy), the rules will be explained, questions will be answered and we'll draw for the initial order.

The battle of the bands is scheduled from 10-noon for the first two rounds. There will be a break for about an hour or so, then we'll roll out the finals.

Hey, $500 is $500. I'm a musician myself and I've played in bands over the years who have gotten paid much less than that if anything at all.

Check it out ... look up The Neckties on Facebook and send them a message. Ask them about the event. I bet you'll find they were very happy with their experience and had a great time.

More importantly, enter the contest. It's a good time.

For rules, entry forms and applications, see www.realtexasfestival.com and click on the battle of the bands photo in the picture scroll on the home page.