Seattle Subsonic

Sound Off! Round 1 Winners – Dyno Jamz

February 16th, 2009

Round one of the Sound OFF! semi-finals is in the books. Coming out on top were the hip-hop/jazz fusion octet, Dyno Jamz, from Seattle. These guys not only won the judges vote but unanimously won over the audience to be awarded the people’s choice. Word from some friends of theirs had it that the band has only been practicing together for 3 months. Still, their presence was undeniable, the rap was smooth, the trumpets and trombones kicked (br)ass, and it was obvious these guys were genuinely psyched to be performing for a sold out crowd at the Level 3 stage. The show came complete with some crazy horn solos, and a drum vs beatbox battle royale getting we onlookers worked up into a nice lather.
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Pulling in the second place spot was the all girl troubadour band, Dearboy. I have a feeling the intense focus of the drummer alone may have won over the vote of the judges. Here was another instance of a surprising musical fusion. Dearboy  came armed with a mandolin, stand-up bass, keyboards and the previously mentioned drum kit blending it all together for a sound that was part indie pop, part turn of the century and overtly complicated.
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Another (apparently) out shined performance of the night was the Issaquah trio Schoolboy Gutbuster. These guys ripped out a pile of 2 minute licks right in line with the stylings of bands like Green Day and the Hives. Their lyrics are frank and cover topics about as deep their friend’s smelly dogs. Still, of the 4 bands, they are the one I would first go out to see again. There is just something to be said about a band that engages the crowd, unabashedly, as themselves. The banter filled as much of the set as the fast and furious songs and we fully enjoyed each minute.
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Also performing were Lovetrucker from the ‘Couve. All I can say about this band is “viva Led Zeppelin!” Rock and roll is the driving force and once they fully grab the reins it’s going to be a wild ride.
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The winners of the three semifinals plus this year’s wild card band will compete during a blow-out finale under the lights and giant screen in EMP|SFM’s Sky Church March 7 at 8 p.m. We the people get to vote on the wild-card, so keep tuned here and to the official Sound Off website for your chance to vote after the semi’s are through.
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If you’d like to enter our drawing for a Sound Off prize package including the 2009 CD, T, and tix to the finals, email us here with Sound Off in the subject