They cannot even agree on their genre, but a Logan Park High School band was in-sync enough to win Otago’s Smokefree Rockquest at the weekend.
Solid Merit was announced as the winner of the regional competition at the finals at Kavanagh College on Saturday night.
Their band was officially listed as "jazz-dubstep", but members disagreed, offering suggestions spanning rock, alternative and "influenced by everything".
Members of the band have entered the competition in different forms for the past three years.
Trombone player Finn McKinlay said in that time they learned a lot, including what the judges looked for.
"They probably want not just dubstep the whole time."
The night went "mostly to plan", except for a megaphone incident, he said.
"It turned off after one line, turned back on, and didn’t sound very good after that."
Finn also won the best musicianship award.
Lead guitarist Albert Baeumer said they were "a wee bit surprised" to win.
Bass player Josie Baughen said the band practised at school and each other’s houses. They tried to fit one session in at least once a week, but increased that to every day in the week preceding the finals.
Drummer and vocalist Abe Baillie said they had some serious songs, but mainly wanted to mix it up by being "creative and a bit silly", he said.
The songwriting largely was done by Finn and Abe, but each member brought something to the sound.
They will still have to create a 15 minute video in order to be selected for the national finals on September 22 in Auckland.
The Otago finals did not include Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, which had their own competition in Wanaka the previous weekend.
Photos by Gerard O'Brien; prints available from otagoimages.co.nz
Otago winners
Band: Solid Merit, Logan Park High, 1; Bark like a Dog, Taieri College, 2; Imperium, King’s High School, 3.
Solo/Duo: Ben and Campbell (Ben Horlock and Campbell Landrebe), King’s High School, 1; Ashlee Maxwell, Taieri College, 2
Lyric Writers Award: Melicen Barber, Paper Frogs, LPHS, for Spoon Moon.
Fatboy Style Award: Do Speak Louder, LPHS, Kavanagh College and Otago Boys’ High.
Best Song: Club Martian, Taieri College.
Smokefree Best Vocals: Kareena Dunlop, Plus 1, South Otago High.
Best Musicianship: Finn McKinlay (trombone), Solid Merit, LPHS.
