First timers The Underdogs take out the 2012 Bullshit Battle of the Ad Bands title

The Underdogs from Painted Dog Research took out the 2012 Bullshit Battle of the Ad Bands last Friday night. Co-host Gordon Haynes gave us this rundown of another close contest and huge night of musical madness.

“Welcome bullshit lovers to Youngblood’s Bullshit Battle of the Adbands 2012!”. That was the line Josh Edge stole to start the night (just one of the dangers of co-hosting an event). And what a night it was: a sell-out crowd, bizarre costumes, sound problems, alcohol abuse and, to top it all off, a rookie winner.

The most excellent The Underdogs may have taken the 2012 trophy, but it was Brainestorm’s Naughty ‘Awk that took our innocence. Forget Freddy Krueger, a bewigged Marty Braine in disturbing makeup screaming into a megaphone has become the terrifying stuff of our nightmares.

But it does a disservice to the other bands to single out just two, particularly when it all began with Awesome Town doing as their name suggests. Sadly, the group awesomed too hard and an amp was blown.

Awesome was followed by bullshit and lashings of it. Seven bands from ad-related industries performed covers both obscure and popular, as well as a few breaking out some original stuff. All had their moments and the judges’ job (Fountains of Wayne Vinten, Tiny Tim Count and Georgie Frampton Comes Alive) was not an easy one.

It came down to a bullshit-off between three: Naughty ‘Awks, The Underdogs (Painted Dog Research) and Flavour Street (Marketforce). In the end, The Underdogs were top dogs, but only by the smallest of margins.

What a great night and it was only made possible because of the brilliant efforts of Ross Tinney, Olivier Mok, Georgie Frampton, Tim Count, along with a host of others. Let’s hope they and the bands feel inclined to do it all again next year.

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