Birmingham Auditions Feedback from Live and Unsigned Music Competition
Auditions took place in Birmingham for the Live and Unsigned Music Competition on Saturday 19th February at the NEC. This was the first time Live and Unsigned has ever held auditons in Birmingham and the city didn’t let us down with its talent! We had over 1,000 musicans turn up to play in front of our judging panel. Well done to all those who auditioned and especially the few who made it through to the Live Regional Final shows on Sunday 10th April.
Find below feedback for a selected few from the day who stood out for the right and sometimes wrong reasons.
Please be aware views expressed by Judges are opinions and subjective to that particular Judge panel. These views in no way reflect the views of Live and Unsigned, but are published with a view to being beneficial to the performing bands and singers who auditioned. So please take the feedback onboard with a view to helping.
Dirty Dogs– good sound, Need to work on vocals and harmonies and some original music
Arcade Parade–great dynamic, nice vocals but more stage presence needed, great sound for a young band
Autogenic– need more performance and work on the vocals, but a solid and good sound
Damp Squib– tight sound, work on lyrics and vocals
Citizen Smith– good song, nice dynamics and great vocals, one to watch
Ascendance - very tight, started off shaky, got better throughout performance, good song, great overall performance!
Between the Lines– liked the female vocals, good song, lead singer needs a bit of work. Funky!
Before theImpact – nice rhythm, nice vocals, good dynamics. Liked the song and overall sound
Return of theBygones – liked the originality of the vocals and an overall quirky sound
The Rassoodocks– a bit like the Strokes, nice sound, love the guitarist
Acoustic Ash– beautiful song and vocals
Katie Collins– good song, hooks and distinctive vocals
Emma– good stuff, but work on original songs, and try not to sound like other artists
Apollo– good front man very confident, great drummer, nice funky sound, good mix of genres
Blemish– good look, nice energy, good contemporary song
Si Clancy– really distinctive voice full of passion, keep eye contact up
Chris Deeming– good voice but unadventurous song, need to work with building up stronger dynamics and vocals
Carousel Circus– good energy but needs some more work, nice sound, but got lost with the vocals
Black Russian– strong female voice, great sound, could work the stage a little more though, needing some energy
Reece Davison–decent needs to look at the audience not the floor, watch your delivery and timing, work on lyrical content and your unique sound
Eli Cripps– nice tone to voice, needs some more confidence
Laura Cowley– good song, good look, good hooks.
Dig Lazurus– good sound, work on song writing
Brittle Bricks– good start, vocals not strong enough, music overpowers the vocals...good music though.
Arcane Rage–great sound and powerful vocals, decent song, more energy needed
Aggyfro– good sound and fantastic idea, needs more work but good blend of rock and hip hop, lots of energy!
Georgia Burgess– great performance and confident, brilliant mix.
Katie Dove-Dixon– decent song, nice vocals, very smooth work on performance, really distinctive voice
Grace Bentley– not strong enough vocally, needs to work on confidence needs to work on audience engagement
Amos– nice beat, good sound and energy, but needs more confidence with all vocals
D7 BAND– nice song but vocals and harmonies need a bit of work
Unique Talent- polish the vocals, otherwise great song and performance
4Mula– good image, work on harmony, good blend of the rapping and singing...good UK urban sound
Chrissie Daz– Unique look and sound
GC Solo Star– good song with soulful vocals, good performance, good song arrangement
Carlton Curtis– good image, nice vocals but needs to make sure he tries for notes he can reach
Amifuba– good tight band with plenty of energy, but need some more experience in front of audiences!
Flygone– strong vocals, good look and energy
Jessica Dixon– nice voice, needs to work on performance and build on confidence
Donna Davies– nice voice, start working on original music
Elle– good image, good song and nice vocals
Purple Valley Rocks– great song, feel good, like the ‘old skool swag’ good sound and performance
Heathen Zoo– original sound lead singer needs to work on presence, good song
John Dale– great track, nice vocals
Bethan Harris– good vocals just work on strengthening them
Henley & the Six String– nice voice, needs to work on calming nerves
Blind Obedience– nice female vocals, good look, great vocals, control the sound of the band more
Brace for Impact– great energy, good potential
Airstryke– very tight band, high energy and great image
Funkhouse– liked the harmonies and the funky beat
Delusions of Grandeur – not a great song, love the sound with the violin making it unique and different
Faded Circus – lacking bass and something special, vocals need work, but great sound for a two piece outfit
Gateway– huge amount of energy from the start, work on the female vocals
Jason Firth – nice American soft rock sound, good song, needs work on the vocals and input more energy
Patrick Hart – nice voice and well crafted song
Dee’vyne– lovely song, nice smooth sound, needs some more confidence
Fires & Fireplaces – original sound, good look, good lyrics and beat, really liked it, very now
Girls that Scream – nice song and image. ‘Go Retro!’
Karen Graham – good strong theatrical voice, don’t try too hard to look unique
Matt Ekins – good vocal range, guitar playing too thrashy, liked the music and sound, try to simplify the song
Harriet Little – nice playing, sweet original song, needs to work on playing and singing together. Great emotion from the song, work on confidence!
Exit– different sound, nice colour changes, good front man, great energy
Band Muted– has potential, needs to put in some more practise
Ember Light Fantastic– great front man could be more energetic. Good chemistry between the band
Stephen Green– Vocals need work, would have preferred an original song.
Jack Kenworthy Band– nice idea with the drums, but needs to be seamless when they return to other instruments. Good sound, different.
Josh Hunt– good song with a nice sound
LJ– need to work on the performance, get closer to the mic, more delivery and execution required
Judith Gordon– good vocals would have liked to have heard an original song
Ray Gordon– nice voice, would have benefited from an original song
Kevin Haywood– good voice, again would have liked to have heard an original song
Georgie– lovely voice, good tone, will be amazing in a few years with the right direction
Molly Morgan–stop trying to sound like Cher Lloyd!! You have good potential with a great voice
Jolie Anna Green– nice look and voice, work on engaging the audience
Just Morale– punchy band, one of best so far, good indie rock sound, great energy and connection between them
Lexicomame– high energy and some great ideas, just need to tidy up the performance
John Wilson– vocals need some work, would have liked to have heard an original song
Justin McGurk– nice voice, nice song, nice personality, work on own songs
Paul Cartland– nice vocals delivered with passion
Izzyjacks– nice arrangement and good vocals. Needs more rehearsal
Gee & Jones– rap duo, good timing need to use your energy
Kitten Pyramid–Like the sound, vocals need some work. Liked the arrangement
Fallback Theory– decent song, nice voice, good beat, nice sound lead vocals good, good connection between the band. Love them
Jamie Felton–nice vocals, decent song and good sound
Paul Leay– solo rapper, timing impeccable, good performer good delivery, nice production , maybe a bit more swagger needed
Ho Kyoung Kim– decent song, good vocals and performance
Harry Jones– nice song, nice vocals good connection with performance well written song, great vocals and lots of talent
Oraine Johnson– a great performer, wicked performance, nice sound,
Chantel Allen– good song, lovely tone in your voice work with it!
Innocent Conflict– great energy but vocals were lost
OWE– work on fluidity in the lyrics, need more delivery and expression, good production
Habz Dizzle– liked the rapping, but needs to work on strengthening the vocals in the chorus
Richard Lee– lovely song, nice voice, work on audience engagement.
Alex Leur– good song, loved the laid-back attitude to the vocals, made a very distinct sound enjoyed the way the song developed.
Joy Kill– very depressing, bit drifty- we needed more impact. Enjoyed seeing all the band participate in the vocals
Let the Games Begin– bit thrashy, good front man, performance and good energy, huge amount of energy across the whole band
A &E– very empty sound, singer has strong voice
Jeiso & Platt– good duo work well together, nice catchy track, good vocals, one to watch
The Rodeo Terrorists– non vocal performance
Jameela Rose– great potential, work on vocals
Bethia Mitchell– great look, nice song, performed with passion
My Name is Earl– good song and some great harmonies
Pandemic– very tight and professional, good energy and interaction
Sophie and Lucy– nice concept but not quite there. Good blend of vocals but needs some more confidence
New World Disorder- good sound, great sound for the whole band
Tero– singer and rapper with lots of original material. Good look, nice delivery in the rap.
Oksana Pavlenko– accent distorted the song, not strong enough
Craig Pinches–good theme, needs to work on engaging the audience more
Moon Bullet–good energy, liked the cheeky attitude, novel sound and approach, think of who your audience is
Missin’ Rosie– good use of flute, makes it a bit different and gave the band a unique sound
One Million Suns– good full sound. Loved the guitar, overall good song
Mondo Cane–great sound for a three piece, however needs more energy and presence
Muha– Continental and flavoursome, would have like it to step up a gear though. Excellent musicians, great sound.
Opposite Sides– vocals were good, ok sound, Seemed to have issues with tempo changes, vocals need strengthening
Danny Price–no original music, but great interpretation and nice vocals,
Jen Robins– bit dull, pleasant, nice ‘smoky’ depth to voice
Riccardo Morgan– great voice, would have like to have heard an original song
Naomi Payne– bluesy, dreamy voice, needs work on vocals but a nice old school sound
Peter Merchant– good voice, really liked the sound and the dynamics
Haleema– very nervous, voice not strong enough
Pre Sleep Monologue–good vocals and overall sound
Motorcade– tight band, good song, nice full sound
Midnight Missions– very dreamy, good sound, vocalist needs work
Moody Bomber– good energy, great tune, loved the chorus
Saborfall–good sound, the vocalists blended well together. High energy and fast pace.
Soundtrack– good sound, vocals need work, good song but think about stage positions. Cowbell?
Barnaby Newman – stylish and cool, nice soft voice
Kween Nefaititi – stylish, nice and sultry with a reggae vibe, needs original music
Neekz – not bad, too nervous and didn’t sell himself, needs to work on vocals
Sermon– different, heavy with metal and rap elements, huge amount of energy and a really tight band
Plastic Empire – good jumpy sound, vocals need some work, great ideas. Need to work on performance
Rachel Dion – needs to strengthen vocals
James Richardson –vocals need some work, interesting song and lyrics
Jermaine Maynard-Roberts – Good performance, need to work on the track
Surrender the Coast – shouty vocal is ok, but others not so, lots of energy ‘owned’ the stage
Solely Mourning– high energy, dynamic band, good look, nice sound but vocals not very strong
Tanya Noronha– needs to get past nerves, otherwise nice voice
Stereosmith– good commercial sound and image
Natasha Steele– nice voice but no confidence, try a different sound
Scout Killers– great polished sound and good song. Decent sound,
Jesse Dansons–violin could be more dramatic, nice sound very quirky, vocals need work.
Morning Star– strong female vocals, bit messy though, a generally good overall band sound
Rubicava– Bit drifty, guitar solo weak, no impact, good song
Leighton Phillips– good, strong musical theatre voice
Nick Riley– good song, good local accent - like the way he uses his accent to an advantage. Well written song and good delivery.
Leigh Sherrad–good guitar playing, good song, gorgeous voice, great song, lots of soul
Sicum– funky cool bass, watch lyrical delivery, good sound with energy
Savannah– well rehearsed good sound, good lead vocals, like the drummer
Mustoe– decent song,though vocals need slight work
Brett Riches– good song, good front man nice sound, more energy between the band needed
Ricochet– really tight band, good song with some good harmonies
Steve Burke– needs some work on vocals, but good attempt on an original song
Lucy Spraggan– fantastically uplifting, nice personality, nice track, good lyrics, quirky...one to watch
Mique–good, strong, soulful vocals
SP– nice complete grime sound
Snappa– need work on timing, good overall performance
Senatore– started off slow, progressed better, good vocals
Shandy Mac– played soft and sang hard
Sixty fours– decent, tight ,good catchy song
Rosanna– good vocals and song
Timothy– vocals need work, nice song
Matt– guitar was too strong for the vocals, lovely voice
Sexy Summers– nice concept, open up in performance liked the song, work more with audience
Southern Attic- good vocals like the harmonies
Sam Rose– uplifting, nice vocals good song and guitar playing, great vocals
Stephanie Santiago– lovely vocals, emotional song
Benji Tranter– nice song, just not quite strong enough. Well written song lovely vocals
Jake Sanson– decent voice, tried a bit too hard with it
Randall –nice vocals didn’t need the backing track
Surgeoner– a bit out dated, good strong vocals and song
James Lewis Band– fresh stuff, nice sound and good front man, vocals and harmonies were great
Ram Raid– decent sound, good strong catchy song with solid vocals
Luke Truth– nice voice, just not strong enough,
Matt Telfer – ok song, vocals need work
The British Kicks– ok band, but need to find their unique point
Magic Pimp Bus– fun but fruitless, nice quirky band like the lyrics, a bit risky
The Survey– vocals need work, work on performance and engaging the audience
Severn– great energy just need to tidy up performance
Trinity Band–liked it! Nice live urban sound, good energy great performance
Wilcox– good beat, good front man, good song, great energy
Scott Wilkes–nice vocals, love the voice
Rivington– nice vocals and guitar playing
Josie West–need to work on performance, get closer to the mic. Needs more work and rehearsal
John Wright– nice vocals and acoustic
Lillianne Ward– cover, but cute work on vocals...got a nice future
Underground– nice song, work on getting the band tighter
The Nortons – same old sound, work on vocals, work on making the performance tighter
Marwan Tahir– vocals need work would have liked an original song
Mark Shian – good vocals but needs work
Joe Houseley and Tom Bailey– nice song and vocals
The Bamshoos– Needs to work on vocals and engaging the audience
Themselves– liked it, nice sound, good front man
Rushmore– funky but no vocals too shouty
The Sin Kings– good look and song, loving the front girl
UK ID– good look, good sound
The Modern Youth– Punchy! Great sound
If you’d like to come along to see some of the bands and acts that made it through to the Birmingham Regional Showcase Finals on Sunday 10th April 2011, National Exhibition Centre (NEC), you can go to the Live and Unsigned website to purchase tickets with the following link;
Industry Judges
Jimi Savage
Guitar Mogul
