JASON GENEGABUS / jason@staradvertiser.com
STREETLIGHT CADENCE PERFORMS DURING THE LOCAL FINALS AT THE HARD ROCK HONOLULU IN MARCH.
BY JASON GENEGABUS / jason@staradvertiser.com
It was so close, yet so far for Streetlight Cadence, who made it further this year than any other local band ever has in the Hard Rock Cafe’s worldwide music competition, Hard Rock Rising — but still fell short of the final cut.
Of more than 10,000 bands that entered, 750 were selected to participate in live battles at more than 70 Hard Rock Cafe locations around the globe. Following a round of online voting, Streetlight Cadence was selected as one of the final 25 global finalists to remain in the running for an all-expenses paid trip to Rome as a performing act at the inaugural Hard Rock Live Rome music festival this summer.
That was last week. Over the weekend, a panel of celebrity judges and music industry professionals that included E Street Band founding member Steven Van Zandt, singer-songwriter Bonnie McKee, indie artist Scott Hutchison, artist manager Laura Taylor, Taiwanese rock guitarist Stone and Hard Rock Records artist relations executive James Buell got together to select the grand prize winner and three runner-up winners, who would all receive $10,000 worth of music gear.
On Monday, the Hard Rock announced via its Facebook page that Seattle’s Joyfield had been selected as the winning band, with Mumbai’s The Koniac Net, Guatemala City’s En Boca De Todas and Orlando’s Fiery Sushi awarded the runner-up prizes.
Not being selected hasn’t dampened the competitive spirits of the band that got its start busking on the streets of Waikiki, however. They’ll head to Surfer, the Bar at the Turtle Bay Resort to take part in another battle Thursday before helping open for New Zealand-based duo Broods during the sold-out Star Free 4 All concert on Saturday.
Haven’t had the chance to get familiar with Streetlight Cadence? Check out the music videos below that were originally featured in Soul Sessions, which appears Tuesdays on the Pulse.
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Jason Genegabus is Entertainment Editor/Online at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and has covered the local nightlife, music, bar and entertainment scenes since 2001. Contact him via email at jason@staradvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter and Google+.