BLUE ISLAND, Ill. — A ceasefire has been reached after tense backstage negotiations at this weekend’s Battle of the Bands, confirmed relieved sources.
“As fragile and temporary as it may end up being, all the bands agreed to stop with onstage verbal attacks, which is a great first step,” explained event promoter Lou Esparza. “We’ll see what else comes of it but I just know we can’t go on like this. At the last Battle of the Bands, someone pulled the fire alarm as the winners were about to be announced. It was chaos. The record executives that were there to award the winners a six-album deal had seen enough and left. But finally, both sides agreed not to retaliate.”
EJ Raser, whose band Lefternal lost the battle, views the ceasefire as a small yet meaningful victory especially for newer groups trying to gain ground on the more veteran acts that make a living in the battle scene.
“This ceasefire is more than record contracts and notoriety, it represents an opportunity for us to secure basic rights—like a place of our own to store our gear. Right now, our instruments get shoved into the venue’s janitor closet all the way on the other side of the venue—it’s inhumane,” said Raser. “We bring in crowds. These veteran bands, because they’ve been doing this longer and receive funding from their industry allies to spend on larger and more expensive gear, cozy up to the promoter for prime spots on the bill and private areas to stash their gear and hang out.”
Jess Bassi, an expert in competitive band competitions, says this type of power struggle is common during these types of events.
“It becomes a volatile ecosystem where the entrenched veteran acts—backed by venue staff and promoters—assert dominance over the newer bands,” Bassi explained. “What complicates this is really a matter of perception versus reality. Sure, the newer bands bring in an audience of family and friends—and, in theory, their support—but that support often translates to nothing more than shaky vertical videos that end up on an Instagram story and go nowhere. So, while the ceasefire is a good step, until the younger acts get real, actionable support from their audiences—not just fleeting attempts at scoring imaginary internet points—nothing much will change.”
At press time, veteran Battle of the Bands act, Tuff Enuff, has agreed to promote an upcoming competition, which is a first for the group and a hopeful sign that peace may be possible.