Waka Winter Classic is a toss-up after five bands throw down + Previews!

The Waka Winter Classic is always an exciting show that heats up the Bottleneck, but this year's battle of the bands may have been the best yet. Five bands bared their musical souls and filled the venue with fierce energy all night. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. the packed bar enjoyed a buffet of music from a variety of styles ranging from reggae to bluegrass to psychedelic jam.

The show started with Menage of Twang, a young group of bluegrass jammers who impressed the crowd right from the get-go. The opening band always has the toughest challenge earning votes, but the crowd was receptive to the set and Menage of Twang put on a tough act to follow.

Second was Whiskey Dik, a bluegrass trio with great harmony between the banjo, aucustic guitar and electronic bass. The fun, dance-able folk these three put together had a funky, party vibe about it. The crowd was entranced by the rambling, upbeat bluegrass. It was clear that Whiskey Dik had a big following in the crowd last night, but the entire Bottleneck was taken in by the band's brilliant set. It was just too bad it had to be so short.

It might seem strange that the first three bands were all bluegrass/folk, making it especially difficult for the third band to win any votes, but Ashes to Immortality had no trouble impressing the audience. The six-piece American Roots band positively exploded with musical power on stage, blowing away the crowd. The speedy tempo of the upright bass and drums drove the audience to fill the dance floor in a frenzy of bluegrass jigs. The lighting-fast, intricate solos of the band's fiddle player and the mandolin savant Mike Hannah demanded the audience's attention. When the entire band jammed out together, vocalist, guitar and all, they demonstrated a harmony and ferocious energy rarely found.

Ashes to Immortality was only just formed in late 2010, but they have a bright future if they keep playing like they did last night. The band's name had some people expecting an emo, metal, rock group, but in fact the name is a Lawrence motto, adopted after Quantrill's raiders burned the city down and the citizens built it up again. The band's Roots music ranges in styles from jazz and blues to rock and folk. The loud, but haromonized jamming came to a crescendo with two epic final songs that left the crowd roaring with approval. Their set Friday night was probably the most difficult to follow.

It seemed as if the whole night might be full of bluegrass, when the reggae troupe, Soul Rebel and the Beast filled up the Bottleneck's medium-sized stage with seven musicians and something completely different. Two electronic guitars, a bass, saxophone, keys, drums and a singer with a bongo set to the side. The reggae band comes from Topeka, and they showed off a veteran experience in jams and solos, with wild guitar-work, brilliant harmony and the most dance-able percussion and vocals of any of the bands. The older musicians in the band have a classic style that gives their music an old-school quality to it.

Finally 3 Son Green finished the night with another inspired set. The four young musicians have thrilled the Bottleneck before and if anything they are better than ever. The psychedelic, classic-rock sounds of their jams takes the crowd back to the days of Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. Funky, jazzy interludes between hard-edged rock'n'roll jams formed a show that really felt like a set at Wakarusa. 3 Son Green's sound and style suit the summer music festival so well that it was compelling to vote for them simply because of the vibes the band gave off.

Altogether the Waka Winter Classic this year was a tough call for every voter. The bands each have their own qualities that make them perfect for Wakarusa and if they could all play there, they would each be well-recieved. However, the battle of the bands can only have one winner. No victor was declared last night, but if this reviewer were a gambler, Ashes to Immortality might be the best bet. Regardless of who goes on to play at Wakarusa this Summer, these bands are all worth seeing again. Don't miss the next chance to catch any of these acts!

Now for Previews:

Tonight there are a couple of great shows; at Fatso's Ras Neville and the Kingstonians will be jammin' in tribute to Bob Marley for his birthday. At the same time Majestics Rhythm Revue will be playing at the Jazzhaus.

Next Friday, don't miss The Floozies as they stop in Lawrence on their tour through the Midwest this month. The dynamic duo will be raging it at their old stomping grounds, the Jazzhaus, so be there or be square!