Countdown to night of nights begins

Only two groups performing on Friday night will earn a place in next week’s 2013 Rockingham Hotel Battle of the Bands grand final.

Five acts, including two bands, two duos and a soloist, will try to impress the judges and get one step closer to the title.

Silence to the Left frontman Dave “Pinna” Culpin said his bandmates hoped to reproduce the impression they made in Heat 2.

“We went in with no expectations and we were very nervous, but we got a brilliant response. It was excellent,” he said.

“I think (the judges) were excited we played all original material.

“We didn’t expect to go straight to the semifinals. I’m really rapt.

“We may be debuting a new song if it is ready in time.

“We’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”

Haystack Charm were declared a winner of Heat 4 and vocalist and drummer Ryan Lamb said he was surprised, given it was the duo’s first gig.

“It went really well,” he said. “We probably weren’t as loud as some of the other bands.

“We are alternative rock but we really try to make it really melodic, not too heavy.

“We’ll stick to what we’ve learned and play to suit the venue.”

Lamb said he had been working hard with bandmate Jake Benson on new songs.

“Hopefully there will be a few new ones in there. We’ll throw them together quite quickly,” he said.

Haystack Charm will compete against Approaching Opposite, who were also fast-tracked to the semifinals on a first-time performance as an acoustic duo.

Bassist and vocalist Calvin Donnelly said working the crowd had been the key to their first heat win.

“I think it was our banter,” he said.

“We like talking to the audience and cracking jokes.

“There’s no point in rushing a performance.”

Donnelly said the laid-back approach was backed by plenty of practice.

“We’ve added a few new covers and got rid of a few songs that we didn’t think worked for us in the first heat. It’s going to be a lot stronger this time around.”

Shoalwater soloist Clinton Stanley said he would showcase two new songs from his three albums in his next performance.

He said the competition had proved a lot of fun.

“I think my last three songs seemed to grab the attention of the crowd,” Stanley said.

“It was really good.

“I’m going to drop a couple of the songs and put in another two that are a little more up-tempo.

“It should get a bit more of a response from the crowd.”

Victory Risk earned their place in the semifinal after a second-chance win in the Wildcard heat.

SEMIFINAL 1 WINNERS: Hello Colour Red and Hearts for Stones

2nd SEMIFINAL: Friday, October 18, 7pm