March Music Madness — Your Final Four

Nippertown’s “March ‘Music’ Madness” bracket is down to just four bands, and the whittling down the process to the finals starts today, Wednesday, March 23rd.

The final four contestants are ShortWave RadioBand versus Pony in the Pancake, and Side-B versus Girl Blue.  

Last week’s voting came down to the wire. ShortWave RadioBand squeaked by Erin Harkes and Pony in the Pancake just edged out Caity Gallagher, as less than 20 votes separated those two contests. With what could be considered the biggest upset of the tournament, last year’s winner Glass Pony was topped by Side-B. And in the battle of two of last year’s Final Four we saw Bad Mothers losing a close one to singer-songwriter Girl Blue.

This year’s Final Four looks very different than last year and it just goes to show how strong our local music scene is, and that this really is anyone’s contest to win.

The winners of this round are guaranteed at least $200 each, and the opportunity to play a live concert at The Linda’s Summer Concert Series this August. Fifth through eighth place receives $100.

Always remember to support all the talented local artists, visit their Bandcamp pages, check into their websites or social media, and give a listen. Go see them live and buy merch, and if you like what you hear – share them with your friends and family. Music is love, so spread the love.

Let’s meet the artists that are competing in this round…

	Bands/Artists	Links
	ShortWave RadioBand : A power trio, writing original music and paying tribute to the great bands of yesteryear. If it’s vintage, if it’s classic, if it’s retro or if it’s rock, don’t touch that dial, keep it tuned to SWRB.
	Pony in the Pancake : Over the years PIP has amassed a faithful following. Their live sound is a psychedelic juggernaut, “the sweet spot where the propulsion of the Velvet Underground, the wide-eyed romanticism and surf twang of the Beach Boys and the elliptical grooves of Krautrock intersect.” -Chronogram
	Side-B : Four-piece alternative rock band formed in their early teenage years and began performing at local music venues across the Capital Region. They bonded over a shared love for classic rock acts like Led Zeppelin and The Police along with modern alternative bands like Weezer and Vampire Weekend.
	Girl Blue : Arielle O’Keefe’s solo acts showcase her intimate songwriting style. She possesses a distinct singing voice that flows from conversation to something of a songbird as it flutters in range.

Final Four voting started at 10 a.m. (today) Wednesday, March 23th, and polls close at midnight on Saturday, March 26th. Bands who advance to the finals will be announced next Wednesday in The Spot 518 newspaper, as well as on Nippertown.com. The Crew on Nippertown will also discuss results live on their program that airs every Wednesday night at 7 pm on their Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch channels.

Here is a print-friendly bracket:

Bands have the opportunity to win various prizes made available by sponsors, including up to $500 cash and more. Prizes also include the following opportunities:

Top Winner: Three-day session at White Lake Music and Bridge Road Entertainment, including recording, editing, and mixing package — all studio instruments, equipment, engineer, pre-session consultation provided.

Top Winner: A spot on the Main Stage of NipperFest 2022.

Top Four Winners: The opportunity to play the Summer on Central Concert Series at The Linda – WAMC’s Performing Arts Center in the month of August.

Sponsors include a dozen returning from last year: White Lake Music, Denis Entertainment Group, Putnam Place, The Dona Frank Team, Nanola, The Hollow, Guthrie/Bell Productions, Caffé Lena, Troy Music Hall, The Linda, High Peaks Event Production, and WEXT Radio, as well as four new sponsors, Cohoes Music Hall, Rare Form Brewing, Empire Live, Lark Hall, and 102.7 WEQX. Prices will be $500 for the Winner, $300 for the Runner-up, $200 for 3rd and 4th place Semi-finalists, and $100 for 5th through 8th place. 

Click Here to Vote!