Featuring BEAR PIT, BLACKLIST, LAND CAPTAINS, HELL-IOS & LIQUID STATE
Thekla, 5th June 2022
After a two year hiatus The hugely anticipated Underdog: Battle of the Bands tournament returned to the venues of Bristol in 2022.
Culminating in a showpiece final last Sunday at Thekla.
A night for the best of Bristol to showcase themselves. And show why Bristol is so high on the UK music Map.
Four bands… @bearpituk @blacklistukband @landcaptains & @hell_iosband fighting it out for not only the title, but £1000 cash prize.
First up, and our pre evening favourites for the title @bearpituk roared us into life with their Metalcore sound causing a sea of swirling arms n legs on the dance floor.
@blacklistukband took to the stage with a more traditional alt-rock sound. And judging by the amount of Blacklist Tee’s we saw adorning the crowd, were going to be in the mix.
Third up, a band we’d heard a lot of good things about, but didn’t know what to expect in @landcaptains.
Definitely the surprise package of the night. Initially we pegged them as a South West Alestorm, but how wrong we were. The vocals and musicianship here were superb as they delivered a set of groove-driven, heavy rock goodness.
Finally it was the turn of the much lorded Hell-ios. Again a band with huge support, the duo impacting our ears with a genre splitting set that melded Alt-Rock with slithers of punk and electrifying riffs.
As the votes were being cast, we were treated to a explosive performance from previous winners Liquid State, who showed exactly why this tournament can launch bands to a whole new level.
Votes done, tension at fever pitch.. a new champion about to be crowned.
Underdog Battle of the Bands Winners 2022… Land Captains. And judging by the huge roar that went up, a very popular choice for both crowd & judges.
Big things to come from all four of these bands, Bristol music is in good hands.
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
