In most cities, when you mention the words "battle of the bands," musicians give you a look like you just backhanded their mother in public. Not in Boston, where the Emergenza Festival is spreading like a tumor, and where for the past 25 years and counting, "important" and "popular" bands from Mission of Burma to the Dresden Dolls have been dog-and-pony-showing in the Rock N Roll Rumble, an odd local tradition that's spawned its own lore and even its own curse. Even the ones among us who've judged the thing for a decade don't entirely get it. For bands, it's a guaranteed payday just to be invited, and the winner's earnings usually include an album's worth of studio time -- not to mention three and a half months of local buzz and the undying enmity of their peers. This year's victims, some of whom appear in the exclusives box at right, were announced earlier today; as per recent tradition, all preliminary-round shows take place at the Middle East. (Semis are April 14-15; finals are downstairs on April 21.) Gambling, of course, is discouraged. But if we were laying odds, the Rudds and Taxpayer would be the obvious favorites (emphasis on "obvious," since that's what usually triumphs in these things). In terms of rooting? It's hard to root for anyone who signs up for a battle of the bands, but still: putting Tiger Saw and Eyes Like Knives in the same prelim elimination is exactly the kind of thing you would do if you were trying to make sure neither of the bands with credibility make it out of the first round.
SUNDAY, APRIL 2
1. CAMPAIGN FOR REAL-TIME 9:00 – 9:30
DOWNLOAD: In Your Dreams (mp3)
2. ALCHEMILLA 9:50 – 10:20
3. A HERO NEXT DOOR 10:40 – 11:10
4. COCKED N’ LOADED 11:30 – 12:00
MONDAY, APRIL 3
1. TAXPAYER 9:00 – 9:30
DOWNLOAD: When They Were Young (mp3)
2. MACH 5 9:50 – 10:20
3. SCAMPER 10:40 – 11:10
4. PLAN B 11:30 – 12:00
TUESDAY, APRIL 4
1. SAY WHEN 9:00 – 9:30
2. CASEY DESMOND 9:50 – 10:20
3. CERTAINLY, SIR 10:40 – 11:10
DOWNLOAD: Midnight Again (mp3)
4. APPOMATTOX 11:30 – 12:00
THURSDAY, APRIL 6
1. SUCKA BROWN 9:30 – 10:00
2. TIGER SAW 10:20 – 10:50
DOWNLOAD: Singing with Ghosts (mp3)
3. WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE 11:10 – 11:40
4. EYES LIKE KNIVES 12:00 – 12:30
DOWNLOAD: Skull (mp3)
FRIDAY, APRIL 7
1. THE COFFIN LIDS 9:30 – 10:00
DOWNLOAD: Vampire Girl (mp3)
2. HARRIS 10:20 – 10:50
3. THE SHARKING 11:10 – 11:40
4. JONAS COMPLEX 12:00 – 12:30
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
1. THE RUDDS 9:30 – 10:00
DOWNLOAD: Astrological Sign Choker (mp3)
2. ROOFTOP SUICIDE CLUB 10:20 – 10:50
3. RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE 11:10 – 11:40
DOWNLOAD: Transfiguration (mp3)
4. FACES ON FILM 12:00 – 12:30