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Battle of the Bands winners revealed
Monday 11th October 2010, 12:37PM BST.
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Telford band Fake Obsession was crowned the winner of the Shropshire Star Battle of the Bands 2010 after beating off tough competition in the finals.
Five groups from across the county battled it out at The Ironworks, Oswestry, on Saturday. The contest was launched more than two months ago and bands from across the region submitted music to judges in a bid to secure a place in the heats.
Four bands played each week at The Ironworks, with just one from each session winning through to the finals.
Madoc Vanguard, Befall the Aftermath, Tenacre, Fake Obsession and Pre Sleep Monologue were selected.
And judges chose Fake Obsession for first place with Oswestry band Madoc Vanguard coming close second.
The winning group’s singer Naomi Barwick said: “We are extremely happy to have won. I started to cry.
“I was really happy.
“I thought all the other bands were brilliant.
“We are shocked and relieved about winning.”
Dan Guyton, lead guitar player, added: “It is unbelievable. We have never done anything like this before.
“We read about the Battle of the Bands in the Shropshire Star and thought it would be a brilliant thing to try out.”
Naomi said they had many plans for the future and would carry on playing gigs.
“Music is something we love and it is a passion for us,” she said.
“We want to get our music out there to everyone and carry on gigging. We are also talking about an album.”
Judge Chrissy Symmons said: “The quality of the music coming from the bands has been first class.
“It was such a tough decision at the finals and it was a very close call for the top title.
“It has been such a treat to hear so much talent from across Shropshire.
” I am sure all the other bands will do well in the future.
“This year’s event has been brilliant and I have had so much positive feedback from bands and audiences alike.”
Steve Gore, owner of The Ironworks, said he enjoyed being part of the event over the past weeks and hosting the heats.
“It has been a fantastic showcase for the depths and breaths of talent all over the county.
“I am completely amazed with the quality we have had the privilege to hear,” he said.
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Cant believe a cover band won a battle of the bands, total crap!
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Fake Obsession are not a cover band !!
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Pathetic
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i don’t think a cover band should have won… befall the aftermath stole the show!
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sorry where did befall the aftermath come in the contest ???
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it is my opinion and the opinion of alot of other people!!
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Oh dear !!!
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“We want to get our music out there to everyone”
Your music? Other bands music!
Buy this – http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Music-Composition/dp/1592574033
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Cover band should have not won, it takes a real band to prepare 100% original material, not cover famous songs.
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we are a real band. and the majority of our set were original music we had sat down and written. we did a medley of 4 minutes as we were showing how versitile we are. thats talent. people liked us and so did the judges, so therefore, we won. it isnt easy when you cant talk, let alone sing, and when your band are feeling at their lowest, to stand there and deliver as best you can to an audience. when we perform, we perform for everyone, not just a select group/type of audience.
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A cover band did not win it was 4 Mins out of a 25 minute set which the remaining songs were originals. At least you could hear what they were singing with no fowl language !!
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What they did chicken impressions as well? Brilliant. Wish I had seen that.
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to all of the above comments, just to clarify, we are not a cover band. we played 4 minutes of covers out of a half an hour set. the rest of the material is all our own. its just to show we are versitile and that we have the talent and ability to do other stuff. is it different when you go and see your favourite band in concert and they do a couple of covers? we worked so hard to win that night. every single one of us were ill, we were tired and we tried and tried. not only that, we wernt using volitile language and behaviour. i dont think the people watching really understand how hard it is to stand there when your feeling at your lowest peek and still have to do everything to deliever! i understand that we may not be “your kind of music”, but please, i would appreciate it if you didnt sit there and slate us for winning. you can not enter a competition expecting to win and then moan about it when you dont. even if we didnt enter, madoc vangaurd would of won! so please, dont slate us for everyone to see. we won the competition fair and square.
thank you.
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“Every single one of us were ill” – was ill
“Volitile”: volatile
“Lowest peek”: lowest ebb
“would of won”: would have won
And why do you not use capital letters?
(And I’m not criticising your talent. I cannot play any instrument and I really wish I could do what you do. But do have a look at your writing, eh.)
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i didnt realise i was in an english lesson. you may not have been criticising our talent, but the one above was. at the end of the day, we were the chosen band. there is nothing that we or anyone else can do about it. it was 3 days ago now, it’s time to get over it and move on. there’s always next year and if they believe they can win as much as they and their fans think they can, go for it then! but dont hate on other bands that have worked just as hard for winning.
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Does that make you feel better making stupid comments like this !!
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Ha ha what a bunch of sore losers maybe you should not have entered. fake obsession are very talented and atleast u could understand what they were singing about!! And as for the guy that shouted pick the best band next year I’m afraid they will not be there :p peace put losers!
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I think it’s really sad that fellow unsigned bands would not be happy for a local band to win and be recognized for their achievement. Fake Obsession are in no way a covers band-doing a few minutes of other songs merely shows their talent as a band and also added a bit of fun to end the evening. I thought the competition was great with 5 bands who were all of different genres and put their own spin on their own style of music. If they were just a cover band I very much doubt they would have won their heat-or the competition for that matter! I wasn’t a fan of all the bands, no one at the Ironworks is going to like every band but that’s the point and I was still able to appreciate the talent and effort every band put in. It’s about a variation of bands but I’m sure that should BTA or any other band have won that similar comments would have been made that are displayed here which is such a shame.
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dont start slating the other bands.”we wernt using volitile language and behaviour” thats got nothing to do with what we have said, and if u listened properly and saw the way we all support each other you see your comment is void… we were spectators and have our own opinion. if you want 2 get personal you cant sing… end of.
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couldnt talk either. wasnt well :)
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Lol nay is amazing singer , she can actually sing anything! BTA fans do 1 u lost end of! Sore sore sore losers get some respect, just shown u to my work mates they said what a crock. lol good look ruining peoples ears! and btw BTA probs played all covers they were that bad u couldn’t recognise them lol grow up little boys!
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ABA DA?!?!!!!!!!!, THATS WHAT I THINK OF YOUR BAND =]
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Who cares what you actually think
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I love how you’ve gone to give the band **** considering we’ve not said anything at all on here and not encouraged anything either :’)
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BTA R NEWBS KAY
Slating matches are fun and all but why call us sore losers when us ourselves haven’t commented ;)
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i never called you sore losers. i duno if i know john :/ lol!! but look, all the bands did what they do best. they gave it. and fair play to you, you gave it!!! and i hope you go for it again next year, and keep on goin for it. hard work pays off!! lol. i just dont like reading that we are talentless, because we worked just as hard. and to be told i cant sing. i actually can. and im not blowing my own trumpet. but i couldnt talk that night at all, let alone sing my best. but i tried and maybe that was part of the decision. i duno. but like ive said, fair play to you!! it’s not my kinda music, i’ll be honest, but u resepect the passion you guys show you have for it!
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thats ment to be i respect lol
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Then you have some really great fans then !!
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the people who are making bad comments about Fake Obsession are supporting a band that had one member kicked out of the ironworks who’s fans made tits of themselves by jeering the other bands and the best lyrics they could out with were swear words, sort of shows the mentality of these people. The right band won on the night and they were the band that put on a show not just screamed into a microphone.
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Who the hell’s this guy?
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just shows how much of a complete idiot you are really doesnt it!! i got rude because so did the fake obsessoin “fans” and members. BTA took it on the chin and rocked the show with energy, passion, a shead load of origonallity and talent.
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I like you am just expressing my opinion and if that makes me an idiot so be it. ( but i am sure that is what you said yourself Janine ? and karl this guy is actually a gal !)
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Seren, your grammar and spelling makes me want to kill myself.
That is all.
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Nobody stood there jeering the performance of BTA !!!
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Bta drummer here
The few guys from Fake Obsession i did talk to were sound, and id just like to try clear up like karl has tried before me, no comment until our own was said, provoked or condoned by any of befall the aftermath, but it is obivious how you guys feel about us. These comments were made by fans of whom we have no control over now, no more than we did on the night. Id also like to clear up that no member at anytime got kicked out of the ironworks, in fact we calmly got our stuff and left.
Despite what has been said on here I for one wish you luck in the future…
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Hi there massive Fake Obsession fan here! Don’t know what all the BTA fans are on about, Fake Obsession play the best cover songs I’ve ever heard! There’s a reason they don’t play their own music…it hurts my ears :-p but seriously though Fake Obsession did deserve to win they are all really cool and have a cool band name and nice hair.
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I agree Fake Obsession had by far the best hair of the competition therefore they were the only choice as far as I am concerned.
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At the end of the day the best band won. I do hope the Shropshire Star are reading these comments as this is casting doubts now over the judging abilities on the night. There is no need to get personal this was a great competition with some great talent. it’s a shame there has been some very sore losers.
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bta drummer here
the members of fake obsession i did talk to on the night were sound, but i would
just like to clear up like karl has tried before me, non of the comments until our own
were said, provoked or condoned by any member of befall the aftermath. they were said
by fans of whom we have no control over now, any more than we did on the night. Id also
like to clear up that no member at any point in the night was asked to leave the ironworks,
infact we calmly got our stuff and left.
Despite what has been said on this space i for one would like to wish all the bands luck in the future
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“The Taste” from Shrewsbury say a big well done, they have played with them a couple of times, good band. The Taste are currently supporting the Happy Mondays, and Sunshine Undrground, band from small towns DO get somewhere! But covers bands shouldnt be involved in contests like this. Fully Agree.
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Sore Losers?! its called BATTLE of the bands, when was the last time u lost a battle and wernt annoyed with it??? its called passion and BTA and us fans are full of it, sorry your not but your missing out. Plus BTA’s set was the only set out of all of them that would take me (drums)and a few other mates more than a week to learn….FACT x
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exactly gaz!
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Saw losers, or jealious, or maybe both! Fake Obsession are brilliant, worthy winners.
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its niether… everyone who commented were not in the band! u can see what the band members said, use your eyes.
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Well done Fake Obsession
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Hmmmm..
Seems like no one actually knows what their talking about.
1. fake obsession ARENT a cover band, they only played 4 minutes worth of covers within their set.
2. Which idiot is claiming a member of Befall The Aftermath were “Kicked Out of the ironworks”? o.0
3. People should stop expressing their opinions on behalf of bands.. At What point were BTA sore Losers? If BtA are sore losers because their fans are expressing their opinions, surely fake obsession therefore look like pathetic whiney children? Comments like “just shown u to my work mates they said what a crock.” Honestly, if your 12 years old. goto bed. if not grow up (:
Also @ Julie….. “Does that make you feel better making stupid comments like this !!” isnt it slightly ironic you saying that when all your doing is adding slight remarks onto peoples existing comments.
Its a BATTLE OF THE BANDS, fake obsession won, and congratulations to them!
Finally Finally Finally…..
I doubt BtA are sore losers or missing out… Watching the video above (thats almost 3 minutes long) theres only visual footage of 2 bands, these bands being BTA + FO. The 2 short clips of BTA playing show them playing with energy and charisma, where as the end clip of FO playing is Badly Dubbed and edited terribly. If the prize was a year media package from the shropshire star, and this is the 1st example of that package, Bta arent missing out.
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I couldn’t agree more with this.
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Getting quite catty on here isn’t it?
Why can’t people just be pleased for winners? I’m sure they will go on to enjoy the success of previous winners such as ……… ummm……… ummm…….nope, can’t think of one right now.
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The last person to perform music that was distasteful to my ears was called Benjamin Raspail. As fitting punishment for this obscenity I served him as a starter to his ignorant (infinitely more talented) counterparts.
I am lucky enough to have been able to experience the occasion of the “BOTB” via the Shropshire Star website as I have negotiated terms to have monthly internet access for one hour- I find it slightly offensive that the voiceover continues throughout most of the performance, however I have decided to overlook this (for now) in light of the musicianship displayed by ALL performers.
Rest assured that I have no plans to visit any of the performers in the near future as I hold no feeling save admiration for those involved.
I leave you now with a thought penned by T.S. Eliot:
“You are the music while the music lasts.”
Ciao,
Hannibal Lecter MD
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You fiend. And could you please explain why our voiceover man hasn’t shown up for work this morning?
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Why does a newspaper need a voiceover man ??? tsssk, talk about non jobs.
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He does the videos.
Well, he did…
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Wasn’t at the gig but had alot of friends there who told me the winning band only did 1 origional song hence the first comment, confusion cleared, good luck to Fake Obsession in the future.
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As they said, they played a 4 minute medley of covers out of a 25-30 minute set. People need to learn how to do math and figure it out for themselves!! It is clear that Fake Obsession played mostly their own songs that they have sat down and written. This is all slightly pathetic and i think that if people don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Do you really get off on telling the singer that she can not sing? As i recall, she had a very very bad throat that night and was in a great amount of pain trying to please her fans. Maybe the fact that she was suffering so much and STILL carried on with the show, proved to the judges the admiration and the determination!! THAT to me is talent and that to me is what it is all about. Now i think everyone really should just back off and stoop trying to make them feel bad because at the end of the day… they won! Let them enjoy it. Like Nay said, there’s always next year. This was obviously their year. Just leave it out. You wont have to see them again if you don’t like what they do.
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Hi guys,
Reading this thread hurts my head. You all write like savages. I can only assume you are more used to scribbling on coloured paper with your big chunky crayons. Here’s a novel idea; move away from your computers, take your pants off your heads, wipe your dribbling mouths and pick up an English textbook.
Yours truly,
The Grammar Nazi
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I think you should have used a full colon there rather than a semi-colon, Mein Fuhrer.
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Hi Andrew,
I see your point. Although my grammar is generally very good I confess that sometimes the more subtle nuances of the English language can befuddle me. It is my understanding that a semi-colon can be used to separate two independent clauses. Both clauses could have stood alone as sentences which is why I chose to use a semi-colon although I think a full colon would also have been acceptable.
Yours truly,
Herr Grammar Nazi
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I love you.
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The grammar Nazi must be 12.
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Whats wrong with singing covers, Gareth Gates and the like have made me a fortune.
Does anyone fancy doing a Snow Patrol cover..
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fail
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I’ve seen Fake Obsession play before. The singer is obviously very talented so I’m surprised to see the comment that she failed to deliver, even with a cold. That smells like sour grapes to me.
Also there’s nowt wrong with playing covers folks. I play in a band, a really good band actually. But alas you won’t see us at a BOTB night as we wouldn’t enter.
Not for professional pride or anything, it’s just that we’re more happy to get paid £1000 a gig to play covers than go to BOTB and play for free.
simples
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This whole comment thread is priceless on so many levels.
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I watched the video, but cannot comment on the quality of the performance as I like music, real music.
The above comments reinforce the recent comments made about the standard of education in the UK at the present time. I would assume that the writers are younger people given that they enjoy ear splitting electronically enhanced noise, and the grammar in the above letters is, to put it mildly, appalling.
If these people had spent more time on their education, and less on listening to their choice of “music” then perhaps they would be able to voice their views in a language normal people could understand.
Very sad.
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Actually i think its sad that you have to come on here and judge…..why dont you talk less and go do something about this ‘problem’, you might want to remove your head from your rear
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Nice one Fake Obsession!
You’ve got great potential – that’s why you won.
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Screw the haters! Fake Obsession are the best covers band I’ve seen!
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I’m not from Shropshire and I’d just like to say, in all seriousness, Fake who???
My point is, there are millions of people like me who don’t really care that you won a battle of the bands contest, primarily because we’ve never heard of you. If you want to trade in your temporary big fish status to be a more ambitious and adventurous little fish here’s some honest advice based on what I’ve seen and heard on this page. Take it or leave it.
Change the name, it sucks.
There is nothing you could do as a band that would be less rock and roll than playing a medley of covers in order to showcase your talents to a panel of judges. Unless you find yourselves auditioning for a summer season at Butlins, don’t ever, ever, EVER do it again.
The song in the video above has no hooks. There’s nothing about it that made me want to listen to it again. Study your favourite songs by other artists and work out where the hooks are. Learn how to write good hooks and you’ll improve your chances of playing to people who aren’t your mates standing in your local venue immeasurably.
Sorry to say it but you sound like a million other generic indie/rock bands. You need to develop your own, unique, sound if you’re going to stand out from all the other also-rans. Expand your musical pallet, listen to every style/genre you can possibly get your hands on, there’s inspiration to be found in all of it. Experiment with it and write indiscriminately. Try anything and everything.
You could be tighter. Rehearse, rehearse and when you’re p*ss*d off with rehearsing, rehearse some more. Then go play a couple of gigs before you get back to the rehearsing.
Lead singer, find your key! Sounds to me like you need to be singing further up in your register. You have a good voice, even with a bad throat, learn where you use it most effectively.
Mailing list – start one, add new names/email addresses to it at every gig you play (if you haven’t already). Let people know what you’re up to and when and where you’re up to it. Spread the word so that people not from Shropshire, like me, will hear about you.
Good luck.
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