Local Band makes LATV band contest finals
Local alternative band Pride Before the Fall is a top-three finalist in the Web-based Battle of the Bands competition organized and sponsored by the Los Angeles-based LATV network and AT and T.
The Yuma band consists of Victoria Islas on vocals and rhythm guitar, Stephen Clark on lead guitar, Brian Curl on electric bass and Stephanie Sandate on the drums. All are 17-year-old seniors in area high schools.
"Our music is different because I'm a girl singer. Sometimes girls get scared to get out there, but not me. I've been singing since I was 5 years old," said Islas.
The hard rock alternative band leaves Yuma for Los Angeles Sunday night for Monday's final competition that could land them a recording deal and $1,500 in Gibson musical equipment.
LATV will air the performances live Monday beginning at 2:30 p.m. on local Time Warner Cable channel 311 or digital cable channel 11.2. Competing against Pride Before the Fall will be Los Angeles-based artists Kura and Leo Machado.
The competition had more than 300 entries, which were narrowed down to the top 20 by LATV musical producers, said Adrian Flores, LATV promotions manager.
Through online voting on LATV.com, the competition was narrowed to the top 10, who performed before a panel of judges Saturday in the LATV studio, Flores said.
It was that panel of judges that placed Pride Before the Fall in the top three.
"They got a great response. They were high energy and had a lot of interaction with the audience. They did very well. I was impressed," Flores said.
Islas agreed: "The other bands didn't really get the crowd response like we did. They didn't get the same energy."
The band performed its song "Buried Alive" on Saturday at the LATV studio in Los Angeles. Islas said the performance was "perfect." Islas credits the band's different genre of music with helping it stand out to judges.
"Blood, sweat and tears we're leaving it out there! We want to win it so bad! We're not just playing, we're competing. It was a great feeling just to go this far. I don't know how to describe it, but just being on that set performing was awesome. It opened other doors for us and this whole experience has just been amazing."
The band has scheduled shows around California and Nevada until their video shoot with Come-Uppance Media out of Indiana.
For more information about the band or their musical influences, check out their Web site at www.myspace.com/pridebeforethefallmusic.
Visit www.yumasun.com for footage of the band performing their song "Buried Alive."
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Stefani Guerrero Soucy can be reached at ssoucy@yumasun.com or 539-6857.
