Two groups you've likely never heard of – which is the point – will open up the "Church Stage" at the Basilica Block Party in two weekends after winning the Basilica Battle of the Bands at the Cabooze on Thursday. A dramatic, high-energy rock quintet with cello and piano that goes by the copy-editor-nightmare name of hunter(Hero) will play there July 9, the night Spoon headlines. And a feel-good, slightly jammy, saxophone-tinged quintet called Chester Bay landed the July 10 slot, opening for the Avett Brothers. It's a good fit both nights: The former is more of an arty/indie co-ed band led by a guy with tattoos and dyed-black hair, while the latter is a DMB-imitating hippie-ish, backward-ballcap-wearing band of dudes whose singer Jake Bosben reminds me of a younger Martin Zellar (down to his southern MN roots). The former scored points for originality, while the latter was very unoriginal but rated high in sheer musical abilities. I know all this because I was one of the judges at Thursday's contest. And I'm not even Catholic. I found it somewhat laughable that the judges' sheet included a rating for whether or not the bands had a "clean and clear sound," which is pretty much the antithesis of rock 'n' roll in my book -- but it certainly suits a gig tied in with the Good Book.
Some other locals bands have already been lined up for the Basilica: Chris Koza's Rogue Valley, whose new album is one of my favorites at the mid-year, will also play the Church Stage before Spoon. Strib affiliate Vita.mn is hosting a smaller stage both nights with the very un-Cities-97-like acts Kristoff Krane and Dada Trash Collage on July 9 and ReadyGoes with Blue Sky Blackout on July 10.
