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News Music Stage Arts Leisure Dining Film Events Classifieds Personals From the Archives: Article Valley Advocate (Easthampton, MA)
September 15, 2005
Section: News

Grand Band Slam 2005
This year's winners take center stage in print this week. On September 22 they take the stages of downtown Springfield for Grand Band Slam.

The Valley is home to incredible musical diversity, and apparently a similar range of diversity in its music fans: this year's Band Slam generated a staggering number of votes. There are voices old and new, and at least one unusual sweep-- Aquanett , purveyor of '80s hair-band rock, not only won best tribute band, they took an incredible four instrument categories as well. It seems more of our readers need regular fixes of "Eye of the Tiger" than perhaps anyone imagined. You know who you are. No matter what kind of music makes your booty shake, be prepared for a knock-down-drag-out night with the Valley's finest musicians when many of our winners and some special guests turn Springfield's Worthington Street and environs into a musical paradise Sept. 22 for the Grand Band Slam. Without further ado (or Flock of Seagulls hair-dos), here's what happened when we tracked down our winners for a little quality Q&A time.

Tribute Band Aquanett

Bass Player Matthew Macri ( Aquanett )

Keyboard/Piano Rick Thompson ( Aquanett )

Male Vocalist Anthony Whalen ( Aquanett )

Drummer Ed Dupont ( Aquanett )

Aquanett --and yes, that's the hairspray plus a "t"-- specializes in '80s rock, that overblown variety purveyed by the likes of Survivor, Queensryche, Bon Jovi and Tesla. In addition to the above, Aquanett includes James O'Keefe and David Ward on guitar. Their fans clearly support their use of haircare products, because the boys of Aquanett knocked the top out of the Grand Band Slam this year, taking best tribute band and four instrument categories. That's a lot of hairspray.

Q: How do you describe your sound?
A: Macri: I'd describe our sound as heavenly angels strumming harps with gold strings while Swedish models coo softly in the background wearing spandex.

Q: Who do you listen to?
Dupont: Ranges from John Mayer to Dave Matthews and then, like, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. I was brought up on '80s hair rock, but basically, after the '80s, I went into a totally different style of music.

Q: Biggie or Tupac?
Thompson: I prefer Kool Moe Dee.

Q: Do you ever play drunk?
Macri: I've never ever been drunk or high in my life. I don't smoke or swear, neither. Apparently I'm all alone in that field, but that's okay. At least it doesn't smell like smoke.
Whalen: I did it once and it was horrible. As far as being sauced at Grand Band Slam, yeah--barbeque.

Q: Who's your favorite Valley musician?
Whalen: John LaValley--he's a natural musician.

Q: Who's your musical hero?
Thompson: Steve Perry. Greatest vocalist ever.

Q: Who's your musical antihero?
Whalen: Any rapper, you pick.

Q: Worst injury on stage?
Thompson: Claw marks from a female fan down my back.
Whalen: Crazed fan chipped my tooth with my microphone.

Q: What was your most Spinal Tap-esque moment?
Thompson: We once had a misfire with our confetti canyon shoot our singer from close range.