Local rock stalwart Chris Bowers was perplexed in recent weeks when two bands smashed their guitars after not being selected for the local finals of this year's World Battle of the Bands (WBOB) in Hong Kong. The bands - emo group Mensheng and rock four-piece Velvette Vendetta - were apparently distraught after being eliminated in the WBOB semi-finals and expressed their frustration in true rock 'n' roll fashion. Bowers says she wasn't sure how to take the stage antics - other than to laugh. 'It was funny when the first band did it,' says Bowers. 'But when the second band did it, I thought, 'Didn't you just see the band before do this?'' Such is the tension of competitive rock. The World Battle of the Bands is one of the few shots Hong Kong-based indie musicians have of getting on the international stage - and a recording contract. The winners of the Hong Kong round, to be decided at The Cavern in Lan Kwai Fong on November 10 - will be flown to Singapore for the world finals and put up in a five-star hotel, as well as win local music store vouchers. But, without a doubt, the chance to gain international exposure, and the experience that comes with it, is most valuable for the bands, says Bowers. Alternative rockers Audiotraffic got a judge's commendation in the 2004 world finals in New Zealand and followed it up with a tour of that country and, in 2005, metal act Qiu Hong won the world finals, beating bands from seven other countries. And therein lies a little secret about this competition: technically, it's not a global event. This year only Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines and New Zealand are involved. That's a step back from last year, when Australia, mainland China, Taiwan, and the US were represented. It was, perhaps, a case of organisers with grand visions trying to do too much too soon. But that's not to cast aspersions on the quality of the music. Bowers says there is more variety in the type of music on offer this year and the organisers had to turn some bands away because the competition was oversubscribed. Attendances during the competition haven't broken any records, but the final show promises to be a big one. Audiotraffic and Hong Kong winners last year, The Train, will join the five finalists - Hungry Ghosts, SkinDeep, Synthetic (In)Semination, Empty Tomb and KillerSoap - making for a powerful lineup. Will Tsoi, guitarist and programmer for rock-based electronic act Synthetic (In)Semination, says this competition is better than others he has been involved in because the judges have a good knowledge of music and are assessing the bands on more than just style. 'We are just trying to have some fun with everyone, with our dance music,' Tsoi says. 'We try to make people move.' That's a theme echoed by other bands, who value participation and fun over picking up prizes. 'We hope that people will remember us, no matter the result,' says Rocky Chan, vocalist for pop-rock act KillerSoap. 'We just see this competition as a chance to show off our music, so the prize for us is not the important part,' adds Jimmy Fong, drummer for Empty Tomb. Meanwhile, guitarist and singer Paul Lamare of WBOB finalists Hungry Ghosts says that as exciting as it is to advance to the finals of the event, the demands of competing have taken their toll. 'It's been a bit stressful, actually. We keep winning, so the problem is we have to keep practising.' Nevertheless, he promises the band will play 'really good indie rock music' next month. World Battle of the Bands, Hong Kong finals, Nov 10, 8pm, The Cavern, LG/F Lan Kwai Fong Tower, 55 D'Aguilar St, Central, HK$100 (advance, Tom Lee Music), HK$150 (door). Inquiries: 9486 4648
