SEATTLE — The walls in the blue lounge at the Experience Music Project are covered with a velvety, soft substance that looks like it was torn out of a Muppet’s bedroom.
Meant for VIPs, the stylish room has a bar and comfortable red chairs and couches — also seemingly made of Muppet — that circle a glass coffee table.
A flat-screen TV, hooked up to massive speakers, showed a copy of iTunes with an array of songs from Pacific Northwest bands.
Along with about 20 other guest judges on Friday, I listened as part of a professional panel helping to choose contestants for the 2008 Sound Off! band competition.
We didn’t look like professionals or VIPs. Most of the women on the panel wore clothes that could have come from either a teen boutique or a thrift store. Most of the men had scruffy beards or longish hair. One guy had massive holes in his jeans.
Granted, we were judging music — something that doesn’t really require a degree or, you know, good hygiene.
This year’s Sound Off! application process drew 84 demos from up-and-coming acts — coincidentally, the same number of demos as last year’s Sound Off! We listened to 28 of the top bands, judging them on things like creativity and musical proficiency, narrowing the pack down to the top 12.
Those select groups will get a chance to compete in February and March for a time slot at Bumbershoot 2008.
Plenty of acts impressed me, including an indie rock quintet out of Seattle and groups from our own back yard.
I don’t even like hard-core metal, but I couldn’t deny high marks to a Marysville group, The Dead Are Judged. A lot of the people on the panel laughed when the metal started playing. I think it was partially from relief. The Dead Are Judged, who blend charcoal vocals with speeding guitars, were a welcome contrast to the more melodic entries.
Melody has its place. New Faces, a trio from Port Townsend, said they “write songs about feelings” on their submission form. On their MySpace page, they listed the hip-swiveling indie rock of Franz Ferdinand as an influence. It made sense. The group sounded a lot like Franz Ferdinand: polished, clever and with a good beat.
Then there was Man Down Medic, a five-piece from Seattle that managed to weave a cello and synthesizer into its harmony-friendly indie pop. Sensitive lyrics such as “If I tell you all my problems, will you keep them safe?” can fall flat. But on songs such as “Extra Extra,” the group made them work.
Not everything was great, of course.
Love Trucker, from Vancouver, Wash., showed a sense of humor on their submission form, describing the trio’s eyes: Six of them, all different colors, that burn for the same reason.
But their lyrics — ouch. Take the lines, “I see her walking down the street / Damn she looks so fine,” from “Song For Loretta.” The lines weren’t funny enough — assuming they were supposed to be funny. The group needed to either punch up the jokes, dial down the cliches, or start slurring.
All told, I sat in my Muppet chair for about 21/2 hours, listening. Despite being a judge, I don’t know who the final acts will be. The EMP staff plans to make that announcement later this month.
Based on hearing the submissions, whoever ends up qualifying, the Sound Off! shows could be worth seeing.
Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com.
Lend ‘em your ear
You can listen to the acts mentioned in this column online:
The Dead Are Judged: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=119039207
Love Trucker: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=148559163
New Faces: http://myspace.com/newfacesband
Man Down Medic: www.myspace.com/mandownmedic
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