To some people, winning is not everything. The musicians who
converged for the Second Annual Acoustic Live finals on Nov. 9 were
more concerned with entertaining the crowd. In the last eight
weeks, 42 musicians competed for the chance to perform at this
final event.
With over 40 A&R talent scouts present as judges in the
audience, it would seem likely the seven performing finalists, all
unsigned musicians, would tense up.
However, the mood was intimate and relaxed, because of the venue
““ the Westwood Brewing Company loft. Walking around the tiny
space was quite an effort, but getting to the loft was even more
difficult with guitar cases stacked at the top of the stairs. The
300-plus attendees were packed in like sardines, a small price to
pay for such an intimate musical experience.
Acoustic Live offers golden opportunities for music fans and
musicians to come together and experience music the way it is
supposed to be experienced.
The highlight of the evening was the performance of UCLA alum
band Raining Jane, an all-female group and the third-place winner.
In the first half of its set, Raining Jane played calm, endearing,
longing-for-home music with two acoustic guitars, a cello, and a
3-part vocal harmony all perfectly matched and tuned. In the second
half, the girls broke free from their gentler side into empowering
songs about overcoming obstacles, especially in romantic
relationships.
In Raining Jane’s show-stopping finale,
“Fashionable,” drummer Mona Tavakoli began rapping,
“You wear me out, I look better without you,” while
beating her Cajon drum as if it were the guy who had done her
wrong. This attitude-filled song transformed the three vocalists
into En Vogue. The song was aggressive and shocking, and a crowd
favorite. Toward the end of the song, Raining Jane broke into a
cover of the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No)
Satisfaction.” The girls of Raining Jane took on Mick
Jagger’s testosterone-filled complaint and made it a
woman’s song. Raining Jane’s set ended with deafening
cheers and claps.
Next, members of Nimbus combined influences from three
distinctly different cultures in a surprisingly fluid manner.
Singer Chrys Rhodes’ drone during one song represented Middle
Eastern influences, while guitarist Andy Sommer’s banjo
conveyed a tinge of Southern country, and drummer Justin
Spivey’s Jambe carried Latin influences. Nimbus’ tone
was intense and moody, which Rhodes contributed most to,
alternating between high, nasally alto and falsetto.
First-place winner Jim Bianco’s music was distinctive with
a Parisian-sounding accordion in some songs, a mini trumpet with a
mute in others, and a clarinet toward the end. Bianco’s
signature guttural voice along with his distinctive instrumentation
seemed like something out of a Disney movie.
Bianco was charismatic and confident on stage, and, most
importantly, distinctive in his sound. Like Raining Jane, Bianco
understands the value of audience participation. The night ended on
a playful note when he asked the audience to whistle along with his
final song.
-Angela Lu