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The hunt

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS? Comic Book Super Heroes.

WBRU is back at it this weekend with their annual Rock Hunt. After sifting through bins of bands, they’ve settled on eight acts for their semifinals. On Friday, April 6, at the Living Room, it’s the Comic Book Super Heroes, Arcadia Landing, Neo Nouveau, And Triangle Forest. On Saturday, April 7, at BandStand Live in Taunton, Massachustts, Omerta Verse, Hello Mahalo, Blizzard Of 78, And Harpoon do battle. The finals will take place on April 14 at the Living Room.
 
Neo Nouveau, a band once known as Holiday, is a promising trio with some great songs. They’re currently finishing their sophomore effort and hope to release an album by summer. “We enjoy playing rock and being among friends,” says leader Titus DosRemedios, “and experimenting with song styles and structures. Expect energy, catchiness, originality, and honesty.” Blizzard of 78 formed in 2002 from the remains of the much-loved power pop band Delta Clutch. The band released their full-length debut in June 2006, and they recently recorded a cover of the Clash’s “Silicone on Sapphire” with Mikey Dread for the upcoming tribute CD The Sandinista Project. The band is currently collaborating with Ranking Roger (of English Beat fame) on a few tracks and finishing the recording of a new CD, tentatively titled Book of Lies. The Comic Book Super Heroes came together way back in 1995. Over the years the lineup has changed and the band has ebbed and flowed, but they’re back now and stronger than ever, with an album release party for the new Destroy CD scheduled for later this month.
 
Arcadia Landing, the quartet formerly known as Slik Willy, has been together since ’99. Triangle Forest is a super-nifty electro-pop outfit, with a cheesy synth element sure to dazzle the kids. With a more up-to-date noise — that is, melodic guitar rock saturated with conviction — comes Omerta Verse, a tight quartet with lots of ambition. In stylistic contrast, there’s Harpoon, a band outta Riverside that sounds more interested in having a musical frolic than getting a serious message across. There’s a jammy, prog element that gives the band a musicianly quality; they rip off Jimi’s “Manic Depression” riff for their own “Last In Line” to good effect. And finally it’s Hello Mahalo. Also highly trained, the SE Mass band has a credible Chili Peppers feel that veers into jazzy improv stuff. It’s a talented batch of bands, all of which have the chops and the tunes to take home the prize. It should be a great battle.