Help Alice Cooper Find A Great Garage Band

Alice Cooper has teamed up with Cooper Tires (cute, right?) to find the next great garage band in America. There are three bands competing for the title - and the winner will get the chance to open for Evanescence during a livestream concert. Alice Cooper will preside over the show. Check out the new bands and vote by visiting the contest website. Each is performing a cover of "Under My Wheels."

I'll just point out that South of Eden, from Columbus, Ohio, is one of the three and they are great!

Help me find the best garage band in the country! Meet the three bands competing to open for @evanescence at the upcoming @CooperTire Driven To Perform Livestream Concert hosted by yours truly. #GoWithTheCoopers #CooperTire
Listen to the bands and vote - > https://t.co/vsSrnnQxSf pic.twitter.com/SiXXiVb4Rv

— Alice Cooper (@alicecooper) April 19, 2021

Comments

[Him]

Hilarious synchronicity, Allyson! I was just talking about South of Eden with a friend today (and, jokingly, telling said friend that "Zappa called, and he wants his look back!!"). Problem is, this song doesn't do them justice. Best to go check out their other stuff.

A chance to open for Evanescence?!?! Methinks that Ashland is probably the best fit for that incredibly prestigious honor (yes, some things still drip with sarcasm). And Suspect208 has the energy and vibe that is closest to the original . . . though still off by more than a mile!

I wish all these bands the best. Gotta' be tough being a garage band (or any band) these days. Nice to see Alice and a tire company helping out a bit . . . which is a sentence I never thought would type.

Speaking of which (and no one else was, so I will), this was a banner week for me, music-wise. Got the new Dirty Honey CD, three CDs from Cats from Space, three CDs from DeWolff (thanks to Rock Candy magazine for the previous two suggestions!), and the EP from Kiss Kiss Bang. In spite of all we have collectively gone through, life's good when the music is playing!

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

[crued]

I think you're right @Him
Ashland would be the best fit for Evanescence. I'm slightly leaning towards allyson's own "South of Eden (Ohio band) I did like Suspect though.

@Him do me a favor ... watch any video of "hemorrhage" by fuel then watch the suspect kid sing, he's a dead-on clone for Brett when he gets a little older

here's a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S78VI-fVHFs

[Him]

You have a point, Crued. Though I would hope that young buck goes in a different musical direction.

Don't get me wrong, that song is an ear-worm. But it was, at least to me, so much a part of a mish-mash era in music that I can still recall, sometimes fondly, but not often.

And I agree. South of Eden is the strongest of the bunch. But that is because they play to my leanings, and have such a great sound when they are doing what they do. But Ashland fits the prize (if that is what you call it) better. And that girl can sing, despite what I think of the sound.

Now you do me a favor, Crued. List to some of those bands I mentioned. And report back.

[crued]

@him I will sir! I think I have a new-ish band for you.. if you like the motley/cinderella/skid type stuff. they are called madhouse. and not too many vids online but their latest release kicks ass! brother!

[crued]

@Him Whats your fave guilty pleasure song?

[crued]

i will add 2 one from Alice... "how you gonna see me know" and my other is ,,, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmmPFrkuPq0

[Him]

Crued, I take no issue with your choice of later-era Moody Blues. That song, and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," are fine slabs of Gouda. Seeing them at Royal Albert Hall with a full orchestra many moons ago was a great experience.

Nor with Alice, as I prefer his pre-Metal music (though there are some good songs there too). For me, "I Never Cry" is a wonderful demonstration of his range back when he could barely stand up (and I consider most of the _ . . . Goes to Hell_ an unheralded work of his).

Firmly within the metal world. my guilty pleasure is (and I have mentioned it numerous times) "Heavy Metal Shuffle." Completely stupid. Utterly catchy. But Kick Axe were (are?) a great Canadian band.

But I will go out on a limb and likely get banned for saying this (one of my friends punches me any time I make a reference to this ditty). Kelly Clarkson's "Heatbeat Song" is perfect pop. The lady can sing. I don't like any of her other work. But that song, for whatever reason, had me going "what the 'ell?!?!" the first time I heard it. And I am man enough to admit that.

I forgot to add one other band for you to listen to: The Bonnevilles, particularly "Long Runs the Fox." They remind me of Royal Blood, particularly "Figure It Out" (which is also a great video). Proves you can be a two-person band and not be gimmicky and annoying (yes, I am referring to the most known two-person band that I, for some reason, can't stand).

Yikes. I reread some of my previous posts. Need to focus on being literate. "List to some of those bands I mentioned"?!?! Geesh.