On October 17th, 18th and 19th 2013, the Chamberlin Productions Showcase featured a host of local talent from all musical arenas at the Main Street Arts and Entertainment Complex. In 2012 the event was held over two nights, the first featuring all DJs and Producers, the second giving bands a headliner night. This year the categories were expanded to allow for a DJ/Producer night followed by Hip Hop and then live bands on Saturday meaning that there was room for more victors and talent would not be turned away for a lack of space. Every night was filled with a solid rotation and the winners from each category are guaranteed booking at upcoming Chamberlin Productions events such as: Avalaunch Pray for Snow, Rail Jam, Spruce Moose, Hushush and other growing yearly events. Though winners are selected, the showcase structure creates more booking than the guaranteed top three spots; bands are selected that have a complimentary sound and vibe to headliners or events themselves.

With such a high number of talented contestants picking a winner was not easy for any judge this year: decisions had to be made across genres in categories that welcomed tap dancing, mobs of emcees and excessive mammary gratitude/awareness. Allow me to explain chronologically.

October 17th featured DJs and Producers in every aspect of musical machinery. Producers with composed beats, pure DJ sets and unique mashups alternated all evening filling the spectrum from old school turntable skills to crazy-go-nuts outfits coupled with wild grimy dubstep. The competition was stiff, judges made the best of comparing very different talents fed by a crowd that changed number and composition drastically between sets. After contentious deliberation the decision was made. DJ Surebert took first with home-brewed soulful beats, followed by the Trap Door Project (live beat production coupled into rotating tap routines) and Christian Jackson who brought the progressive house with a fleet of murdered-out CDJs that looked like weapons of bass destruction. Local house hero Chris Sage also snagged honorable mention for his seamless set. All the performing artists from Thursday the 17th put on one hell of a show and deserve to be thanked in no particular order, thank you: DJ Aktivyti, Flapjack, Datslice, Bass Bums, AK DMD and Brandon Joy.

As promised, the chronology continues with Friday. For the first year ever Hip Hop and live bands were divided into two nights, a side effect of the very solid fact that Hip Hop in Montana is intensely alive and practiced like kung-fu. Another hotly contested night, the 18th was filled with even further talent as Emcees from all over Montana brought the sound of unique lyrics and original composition into the spotlight. First place was awarded to Showcase alumni and 2012’s runner up David Dalla G and the Stryde, a victory three years in the making. David’s group has been working for years to perfect the sound that resonated powerfully with the showcase, and it paid off. Following David and the Stryde was the solid and driven skills of Gentleman Script supported by Sammy K on live drums and the nefarious DJ Bones holding down the 1’s and 2’s like they were trying to flop out the boat. Script has been in the Bozeman scene for years and deserved every accolade given for his set as he joined the Chamberlin community of artists. Third place went to Prosper for a solid set of tight lyrics and beats to a vibrant crowd of dedicated heads. Again, there is too much talent to describe, so thank you the skilled: Hemingway, Rude Max, Apollo Clone, Levon’s Ghost LA, Homegrown Heros, 3rd Culture and The Codependents.

david dalla g

Rolling into the third and final night of the Showcase, live bands ruled the stage on Saturday, testing the limits of variety and revealing new talent. Again, diversity was high, making for the closest decision in Showcase history with only 3 points dividing the winner and runner up. Local alt-rock badasses Eventyde took home first place with their near professional production and perfect performance despite playing in the “dreaded” first slot of the evening. Nevertheless these freshmen rocked hard enough to beat out the razor margin of runners up, The Booze Hounds, who came to honky all the tonk and drink that beer you didn’t finish (it was just sitting there). Close again behind the Hounds was Panther Car, a hungry young cadre of chaps who poured themselves into their showcase debut for a well-deserved third. The Mustache Bandits garnered honorable mention for their energetic set celebrating badass rock and roll, sweaty/disgusting party worship and the titillating gratitude of their family classic “I Love Boobies”. Thank you to all the competitors from Saturday: Charlie Apple, Molotov Quintet, Coldwater Mansion and P and the Moniums.

eventyde

With another year passing on some “sooner-than-you-thought” the Showcase can close its doors for another 11 months or so in anticipation of next year’s talent. Hopefully the tone of 2013 will carry over into three more nights of new and returning talent, with growing and improving groups battling themselves and one another in the hunt for the best beats, songs, raps, scratches riffs or whatever mode of musical shenanigans they can pull off.

Riley Pittenger lives in Bozeman, Rolls Sushi for a living and works for Chamberlin Productions on the side.