BATTLE OF THE BANDS: Swanee River Vs Top Dead Centre
Ding-ding! Seconds out! Welcome to round two of our new weekly war of the great unsigned!
The idea is simple: every Friday we’ll give you access to two unsigned bands. Download their songs and then vote for the band you like the most. The following Friday we’ll count the votes – and the winner will get a spot on a forthcoming Classic Rock magazine CD, taking their music to 70,000 rock fans.
Round one was won by the mighty Federal Black 40 – watch out for a track from them on a forthcoming CR CD.
So without further ado, here are this week’s contenders:
Swanee River
Starting life in 2004, Swanee River come from Derry, Northern Ireland and play a fiery blend of soul, blues and rock’n’roll, citing their major influences as Free, Led Zep, Rory Gallagher and Spencer Davis.
This isn’t Swanee River’s first Battle, they won the Northern Ireland Battle Of The Bands (which featured over 300 bands) in 2006.
With their sleazy blues rock sound, hard punching guitar riffs and powerhouse vocals coupled with spell-binding live shows, Swanee River claim they are scaring people into liking rock’n’roll again. Do you agree? Could this lot be the next band out of Ireland to follow in The Answer’s successful footsteps? Download their track Baby Better Lady and decide.
Download Swanee River’s track Baby Better Lady!
To vote for Swanee River, send an email entitled ‘Swanee’ to classicrock@futurenet.co.uk
For more River tales, visit their official website or their Myspace page.
Top Dead Centre
TDC are from Ontario, Canada and first came into being in 2005, bringing their relentless amalgam of screaming guitars, pounding drums and thundering bass to the local scene. Starting off as covers band, TDC soon realised that writing their own material was the way forward. Channelling the spirit of early Aerosmith and UFO, Top Dead Centre have just recorded their first full-length album, Far From Nowhere. So, are they the future of rock’n’roll music? Do they have what it takes to send their competitors down the Swanee? Download their track On A Train and decide.
Download Top Dead Centre’s track On A Train!
To vote for Top Dead Centre, send an email entitled ‘Top’ to classicrock@futurenet.co.uk
For more Top stuff, visit the band’s official website or their MySpace.
So, Ireland takes on Canada! Will Ireland come up trumps just like they did in the rugby? Or will Canada knock ‘em out when the bell rings? It’s all down to you! Who do YOU prefer? Vote now and add your comments below! Voting closes Thursday 2 April, result revealed next week. One vote per person, multiple votes from the same email address will not be counted.
(If you’d like your band to be considered for Battle of the Bands, send CDs to Scott Rowley, Classic Rock, 2 Balcombe St, London NW1 6NW.)
Swanee are amazing both live and recorded. The Answer should be supporting them.
Swanee River are an amazing band who deserve a break. Get them on the CD!!
rocking band
Yeah! It’s about time these boys were in Classic Rock, come on folks!
Top Dead Centre CD is excellent and they sound amazing live. This is one very solid and tight band.
Finally! A great Canadian band! On A Train rocks!!
Top Dead Centre ROCKS live and sound amazing recorded!!!!!!!
rocking band
Top Dead Centre kicks A– !!!
Wow what a talent wish you all the best
TDC rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On a Train f’n rocks great guitar riff. If you like old school rock this definitely it.
Top Dead Centre kick some major ASS!
Got my vote!
One vote here for “TDC” !
Love the groove…these guys rock!
On A Train kicks…
Awesome.
Top Dead Centre’s got all the makings of a great band
killer riffs, insane vocals, and a rhythm section that can’t be denied!! ENOUGH SAID.
TDC reminds me of ACDC and swanee of the Black Crows. Im gonna go with TDC
Swanee are commited to rock n’ roll. Sign these guys quick
Classic Rock shuda had a feature on Swanee ages ago… this band deserves bigger things, absolutley f**kin rockin’… !!!
Swanee River are the best live band to come outta N.Ireland in the last ten years, they deserve to win this hands down- legends!
T.D.C. on a train rocks
Top Dead Centre…that guitar solo kicks ass!!
Good job!! Kepp er lit
Top Dead Centre ALL THE WAY !!!
I just listened to TOP DEAD CENTERS ENTIRE CD…..EXCELLENT JOB BOYS
Great band
Singer of Swanee River has an amazing voice…check out…’Baby better lady ‘…\w/{>L<}\w/… love this song!!!
After listening to both I must say that Swanee just about take the try. I mean which song would you take with you?
This is not a question of how much is a song worth once you have bought it. Rather take it, and you gotta drive, drive, and drive again.
Up the Swanee, rocking!!!!
best of luck lads, you deserve it!
Swanee River… what can I say! An outfit on the verge and ready for a life of rock n’roll! These dudes, without a shadow of a doubt, get my vote!!
Jx
Swanee River! They are even better live, i’ve seen them about 4 or 5 times now.
swanee rules
Top Dead Centre Rocks!!!!!!!!
Swanee…hardest working band in the North!!!!
Swanee River all the way!! Tightest, most rockin’, professional, entertaining band to come out of Ireland in years.
Swanee I am loving it…
Swanee…Hardest working band in the North.
swanee keepin it real
Top Dead Centre rocks but when it comes to these 2 songs, Swanee River rules!!!!!!!!!!!!
TDC- best new original rock band i’ve heard in a long time. Keep it coming
Top Dead Centre is totally amazing! The song On A Train rocks!
top Dead Centre is on top
T.D.C all the way…….
Swanee, awesome laed singers voice, why isn’t this band mainstream yet ?
Top Dead Centre “On a Train” is a Rock’n machine loaded with power.
Swannee is good, but can’t match the feel and power of TDC…
Swanee River all the way to the top and beyond… and about time too!!
Swaneeeeee kick ass!!!!!
T.D.C. Rocks. If you like good old rock this is the band for you.
Swanee River for me….
Swanee River for me please
Swanne River Freakin sweet!
VOTE 4 THEM
swanee float my boat
Both are fine rocking units. But I very much dig TDC’s tune “On a Train”
Good stuff ,lads!
My vote goes to TDC – awesome !!
Swanee for me. Good Luck boys.
Swanee River by far! Stevie blues Horner makes me happy in my pants!
Swanee river are a rockin, rollin, bluesin awesome band.
TDC guitar solo is awesome! Kinda matches the rest of the song…. TDC all the way, what’s there to think about???
Cheers, Ron…
Swanee River for definate, absolutely fantastic band.
Swanee are easily 1 of the best live bands in the world … seriously impressive. They dont loose anything in thier recordings either … hands down easy choice for me.
Keep er lit lads
best band ,,,saw them recently!!!
There goin to be a bag prospect in the future…
You would be stupid not to have them win!!!
TDC….big fan of Mr. Albon!!
Ive heard both of these songs somewhere in my head before…and thats the problem both bands are extremely talented and show professional musicianship….but no originality here…you can still have a classic rock sound without simply repeating the riffs and licks and lyrics from the last 40 years…sorry guys…drop the influences and make your own sound otherwise you will disappear into the abyss of what might have been….
WATCH THIS !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fza3BeQPjME
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MYBESTSUNDAYDRESSYEAH
Great Riffs and Great songs.
Rock Lives Again.