They weren't sure they'd even enter, but The Slooches out of Milton-Freewater sure were glad they did after taking top honors at the fair's battle of the bands.
The trio won the grand prize of $500 out of six bands that entered.
"I didn't think we had a chance," said Dillin Stiffler, 19, lead singer and guitarist. "We don't really get shows (they've been together for just more than a year). And we even thought about not doing it."
So what are they going to do with the money?
"Pay bills," Stiffler said. "I paid my insurance and Les Schwab bill. My buddy (bassist Mike Hill) was in debt too."
The band has had a recent string of about 10 shows (they're also planning on playing Ray's Golden Lion in October) which forced Stiffler to quit his job at Syke's, an AT&T call center, because he couldn't get enough time off to devote to the band.
The rockabilly/punk band that also includes drummer Reed Harwood has demo CDs, but they plan on focusing their efforts after the win. They hope to record a proper album and perhaps play a show with one of their battle of the bands competitors, Stupid in Stereo.
"We really enjoyed Stupid in Stereo," Stiffler said. "And we love Plants (Eat People). They're the ones who got us to play the battle."
Headed to DMB
It hit like a ton of bricks when it was announced that Dave Matthews Band sax man LeRoi Moore died from complications he suffered in an ATV accident.
A flurry of messages were sent back and forth from friends across the newsroom and across the country shortly after it came across the news wire. I had seen the man the last time the band rolled through The Gorge last year, part of the three-day, Labor Day weekend set that has become an annual event for many DMB fans.
I wasn't planning on going this year, as a date with Wilco in Spokane was a little too close and money a little too tight. But when I heard the news, I sucked it up and picked up tickets for the Aug. 29 show. And I'm genuinely excited to see how far the tributes will go or whether they'll just let the setlist speak for itself.
For such a tightly-knit musical troupe, Moore's role can't be denied. Just play Ants Marching, arguably their most enduring hit, and try to think of what it'd be like with out that blaring, staccato horn.
Check the blog Aug. 30 for the report.
*Jeremy Dutton: jdutton@tricityherald.com; 509-582-1525