The Whisperer

Bud Music Live’s Battle of the Bands (BOB) finale yet again attracted rock rebels and alternative addicts that love to mash and sway to the competitive sounds of their favourite bands in Bahrain … or in this weekend’s case, not. 

Little did they realise that the show’s special star turn by five-times Grammy Award-winner Macy Gray was going to scupper their plans GulfWeekly understands because of an equipment clearance wrangle with customs officials at Bahrain International Airport.

No winner was crowned at this year’s musical event staged at Coral Bay on Friday, as organisers were told that Macy’s delayed sound check would cut into the bands’ performance timings.

Since many of the finalists had to go to work later in the evening the contest had to be rescheduled to a later date.

The finalists were ‘All In’ from Rocky’s Cafe, ‘Atomic Milkshake’ from Buffalo, ‘The Noise’ from JJ’s, ‘Overnight Sensation’ from Davy Crockett’s and the only non-hotel local band to make it, Bloodshel.

Fans had no clue what was happening, the Whisperer included and everyone seemed to have had the same idea of arriving early to see the singer up-close and personal, which made parking a nightmare.

The Whisperer thought he had arrived late as he walked into the venue in the middle of a heavy metal act, which led him to believe that the event was still on and it would be awhile before Macy showed up.

All he really wanted to hear was Macy’s classic ‘I Try’ single, taken from her multi-platinum debut album On How Life Is.

After Bloodshel was done screaming, Atomic Milkshake took to the stage and energised the crowd with a mixture of R&B old school and popular Hip Hop medleys.

Radio celebrity, former GulfWeekly columnist and BOB judge Marie Claire explained that these groups had offered to fill in because of the contest cancellation.

After what seemed like a life time, Macy eventually made her way to the stage, avoiding the crowd by riding in what looked like a chug boat. It would have been much cooler if she had started singing from the boat rather than having to make us wait once again for her to get on stage which took another 10 minutes.

Everyone went silent in anticipation and the second the music started loud cheers welcomed Macy to the stage. She was covered in what looked like a bright pink sequenced dress and a furry pink boa.

The band sounded phenomenal playing reggae-style beats and ticket holders began to mellow out. Then she sang... and... You couldn’t really hear her or make out what she was even saying. I guess they needed more time for that sound check.

After two songs the MC called for a break as the band was apparently ‘tired’. Perhaps it’s because the lovely Macy looked a little strained. Personally, I think her back-up singers and the band stole the show. Her outfit choices were one fashion faux-pas after another going from pink to an unflattering orange and gold dress to another pink and orange raincoat-inspired garb.

Macy barely mustered up a ripple of applause from the crowd and half-way through I thought I could hear someone snoring.

The Whisperer left before his favourite song came on and noticed many others doing the same.