Battles heating up at Patio

Battle of the Bands
The Patio
Wednesday, Sept. 8

Healing Sixes was the most professional, tenured band of the lot — reminiscent of the less anthemic B sides of Bruce Springsteen and Southern rock without the whiskey. The tender, gravelly voice of Doug Henthorn was best shown on the ballad “End of Conversation,” although Henthorn was quick to point out after playing the selection that “Before you get too sappy, that song is about a conversation in a free clinic.”

Where Healing Sixes opted out of whiskey with their Southern rock, Smoke Ring seemed to have picked up their rations. Lots of hair, open shirts and a lead singer that looks astoundingly like Brett Michaels a few years down the line.

Pravada is a band that subscribes to the less is more indie rock philosophy in a way that pools them with bands like the Shins, less a bell or whistle of ultra pop. They came out on top and will advance to the finals at the Vogue on Sept. 30.

It’s like thinking the bottle being drawn to your lips contains Sprite, but it turns out to be V8. I’ve been told repeatedly that I’m going to love the Swell. I figured I was in for indie rock, especially because they hail from Bloomington, a veritable hotbed of the stuff. My impression of the trio: dead ringer Sister Hazel vocals scaling a forceful line between pop rock and jam. I was decidedly disappointed based on all the previous hype. Regardless of being misled about their sound, they played a great set; I’m just not a jam fan.

Original State of Mind also moved along the lines of jam with an acoustic guitar rather than electric, channeling a realm of Rusted Root minus the tribal undertaste.

Although Heaven and Hell performed fiercely with headbanging Mia Kileen at the helm, this is a band that fails to traverse any new territory. It’s modern rock with a female lead and that paints an accurate picture of what one can expect.

Matt Mays Band features vocalist Jessica Benge. Remember her name. Although ably backed by the commandeered jazz band En2 and Matt Mays of the Spin fame, Benge is a soulful wailer with a booming, fantastic voice.