When Indie Rock and Metal Collide (Or the goose that laid the golden egg) By Michelle Dee

Verse written live on the night during and only as each band played on stage at the Goose and Granite Battle of the Bands 2007 Final. Minor alterations for scansion were made later but essentially the piece was written in four ten minute bursts.

Tables moved out of the way as GST play "Class A" Front man Dave wants his band's free beer, He'll get it later have no fear. The kids get a taste of the microphone Bellowing out "all that you know" Standing on speakers wearing Ray Ribeiro's cap Not cap in hand, they couldn't care about the grand. Tight strides moving in dizzy circles hand on ceiling. Mini GST mosh pit swell and surging, God save the crowd. Cardinals one drink between them as lager thrown three feet ,and drenches those dancing there, faces in the window stop and stare inside, "we're on a one-way trip to nowhere."

So who will the judges choose? Four different bands someone's got to lose. The Cardinals new rhymes in time with the city And yeah it might not be pretty But it is 'Ull and the pub is nearly full. Heady scent of sweet perfume, some hot chicks walk in the room. And early fireworks going off as "soft cocks" rampage. Then it's over band is done Now it's time for another one. He nicked my pint so need one of those It's all rock n roll, that's how it goes.

Was at the bar for the first song It's just wrong you have to wait so long Lavellion play on. Its riff shakes and posing pants Floor quakes and everyone dance. Crowd screams aloud, for guitar so proud. A boy outside the window knocks hell out of a tree with a pole as drum beats "rock n roll down in my soul". Bare-chested, Lavellion bested? Not yet I'll bet. Glittering scarves glamming it up, until something blows up.

Mic back on, Mike shouts out, Lavellion brings it with another clout. Oh so cool he rules this school. Marbled axe shaking neck will these boys take away the cash, be a splash in the news if they could. If it was up to the cats here now they would. One for the mums and dads. One for you all to have a dance. Top comes off, chest rippling hard not soft. Then inches away his eyes stop and stare to check out the lines I'm writing It's free verse I'm doing not a review So no-one can read it yet, not even you.

Fado Rock been away from the scene, With bluesy rock laced with keys they please, "Eventually" that vibing line, I remember from last time. The crowd has grown thick and fast, tie me to the mast Cos if this pub goes down I'm going down with it. Drowning in beer and fans with shirts sporting Fado Rock not rocks as horns are locked. Classicly driven guitar solo, watch the drummer's beat roll. Packed in like sardines but what does it mean? Have Fado grabbed the cash? Do they make a run for it with the stash? Or is it all still up in the air? A fair decision yet to be made.

The goose ain't laid that golden egg yet Which band will win is anyone's bet. "Falling Fifty Floors" the one I said, the video before, La Haine about pain and decay, that film from '95 Brought the story of the dispossessed French alive. "What do you want from me" A book? Well fuck. Fado Rock going to win? Don't know but 'round about now they're king.

Sofa climbing while I'm miming to Kenny Fine 69 to help me with this drink of mine. Heat Ray on stage and I squeeze in hands wave and moshing begins. Heads will roll to this metal celebrity an entity no longer bee bitten, blown by the mizzen. Hair flies and I'm reminded of 'tallica Camera flashes to close, eyes flicker. Are Heat Ray going to run off with the money? Who knows right now as explosions fly and fold we rock together like gods of old, we won't be told.

For this is the final and only one can lift the prize Finger tapping magic right before my eyes Picks less than before but the crowd shout for more A slow witchy ballad grows out of the haze Slight elbow to the head and I go into a daze Ear splitting blast, my hearing won't last I duck out and gauge the feeling of the pub Lot of support for Lavellion, there's the rub. Fado too, proved they were worth a shout GST Cardinals won't go down without a fight.

Who won you ask, holding your breath. They all did in my eyes But the three judges thought Heat Ray were the out right best.

Copyright © Michelle Dee 2007

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