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Round 2, Week 3: Coterie of Stern vs. Black Heart Republic

Congratulations to our Round 2, Week 2 winners: Canoe!

Congratulations to Canoe! They collected the most online votes this past week, earning themselves a spot on our next live battle of the bands at Nietzsche’s on January 14, 2011.

This week features two more of the best original acts that have thus far submitted a photo, an original mp3, and filled out our rigorous questionaire (see below). Each week, the popular online vote decides who proceeds to the live show where four acts square off in a no-holds-barred extravaganza of local original music.

That night at Nietzsche’s (21+), each audience member will be given one ballot on which to cast his or her vote for his or her favorite band. At the end of the night, when the tally is completed, only one will have won the right to perform in the Artvoice BOOM Grand Finale—the battle royale, winner-take-all live blowout where one talented act will walk away with unspeakable prizes, a handsome wad of cash, and the eternal privilege to proclaim themselves Artvoice BOOM Grand Champions!

This week, we give you Coterie of Stern and Black Heart Republic. Take a moment to meet them on this page. Finally, cast ONE vote for the one you like best. Through the magic of the digital age, we will tabulate the voting and announce this week’s winner in next week’s print edition.

A word of warning however: Bands attempting to stuff the ballot by submitting multiple votes will be rooted out using the most sophisticated intelligence software available on the black market. (Well, okay, that’s a bluff, but if you try to fool our IT guy you will be caught. Just ask the FBI…he’s that good. And if that happens, you will be disqualified with nowhere to appeal our decision.)

There’s still time for artists to enter the contest. Just visit boom.artvoice.com to find out how. In the meantime, check out this week’s contestants, and may the best band win.

Coterie of Stern

Black Heart Republic

You must have the latest Adobe Flash Player installed to listen to the BOOM! contestants.

You must have the latest Adobe Flash Player installed to listen to the BOOM! contestants.

Band members: Colin Erdle - vocals, guitar / Mark Warren - guitar, vocals / Dan Marrin - drums, vocals / Brian Hohle - bass

When/where did the band form? Mark and Colin began playing as a songwriter duo in july of 2009. Dan joined in january of 2010 on drums and Brian joined on bass in may of 2010. Colin and Mark met each other in 2001 at Fredonia state while attending the school of music. Mark Brian and Dan all grew up together and are childhood friends.

You might like us if you like: Alice in Chains, Weezer, Soundgarden, Radiohead, the Cure, STP, Pearl Jam.

Best show played: The best show we have played to date would have to be the Mohawk Place in August of 2010. We opened for the Ethchings and A Hotel Nourishing. We filled up the place and rocked a perfect set leaving the crowd wanting more.

Why you should win the Artvoice.com Online Battle of Original Music: We deserve to win BOOM because we busted our asses this past year writing good material that people in Buffalo seem to enjoy listening to. We are dedicated to our music and bringing an awesome original sound to Buffalo.

Website: coterieofstern.com

Band members: Ed Strawbrich - lead guitar / David Wilkes - drums / Bill Pegg - guitar / Chris Doyle - bass / Aaron O'Brian - vocals

When/where did the band form? The band formed by the din of a rail yard back in 2008.

You might like us if you like: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Collective Soul, Black Crows, Counting Crows, Foo Fighters, U2, Tragically Hip.

Best show played: We played at the Buffalo Museum of Science for the “Good Vibrations” exhibit. What an amazing place to pump our sound into! It was a great room to play, while surrounded by science and our fans.

Why you should win the Artvoice.com Online Battle of Original Music: Our band writes music that is more thought provoking (lyrically and musically), while holding to the rock standard song structure. We reach outside the 16 year-old laments of “why did they break my heart?” We move into more adult questions of life, politics and religion.

Website: myspace.com/blackheartrepublic

Cast Your Vote Now!
(polls for this pair of bands open Dec. 16 - Dec. 21)

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