INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Battle of the Bands

Birdy’s
Friday, June 30

And the winner is … King Street Conspiracy. This keyboard-driven, funk-rock band bested four other groups in Birdy’s Battle of the Bands Friday, June 30, winning the opportunity to perform on Friday, Sept. 15. Spats-wearing prog rockers Unfinished Business took third place, and will perform Oct. 13, while the blues-rock combo Wheelhouse won second place, and will perform Sept. 29.

Birdy’s was packed for this round of the competition, with most bands being bolstered by the support of fans. Eighties throwback band Rok Hollywood had fans dancing near the stage in their Rok Hollywood T-shirts, and after the end of each song, their fans howled with approval.

“We have a sound that will hopefully build fans,” David Short said. “We’re the alternative to alternative.”

Wheelhouse secured a second place win with clean, bluesy hooks and a mature, tight sound, which the band described as “blues with balls.”

Unfinished Business may have come in third, but this Warsaw, Ind., band worked the crowd for all it was worth, with the lead singer going into the audience and dancing with a female fan. Their unique sound, accented by guitarist Gordon McMillan taking a few turns on flute, and a natty, ’40s inspired look, brought individuality to the contest.

In the end, the audience made King Street Conspiracy the night’s winners. Keyboardist Ben Deater’s intricate playing was the icing on the band’s cake, adding luster to bass player Matt Livengood’s deep grooves. The night’s tightest-sounding band seems to have had a secret weapon, however, in lead singer Jason “Duck” Miller’s mother, Shannon.

“Just call me Mother Duck,” she said. Miller attends each of her son’s performances, and sped from Detroit after finishing a delivery job to get to Indy on time.
“I’m devoted!” she said. “I’m a woman on a mission.”