Provincial Air Guitar Championships Makes Some Noise
Bandit. I believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness. Provincial Air Guitar Championship 2015. PHoto Julie Santini.
Many hopefuls competed in the Provincial Air Guitar Championships at Mainline Theater this past Saturday with dreams of making it to nationals in Toronto. This event raises funds for Rock Camp for Girls and Right to Play.
Amy “Bend-It-Backwards” Blackmore introduces non-participant-host, Al Lafrance, who explains the rules and criteria before launching into the first round. The first round consists of ten competitors, each with a one minute song of their choice and though air roadies are allowed, back-up bands are not.
The judges, Rebecca Munroe, Jamie O’Meara, and Bob Wagner give scores between 4.0 and 6.0, so no one can get 0.
Round 1:
Kimmy Schmendrix. Air Guitar Championships 2015. PHoto Julie Santini
1. Kimmy Shmendrix – Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet
Fringe Show : Where Were You When I Was Coming – Venue 3
Skipper McCoy. Provincial Air Guitar Championship. PHoto Julie Santini.
2. Skipper McCoy – New Moon Rising – Wolfmother
Wearing the first leather pants of the night, he does not have a Fringe show to promote but says “See Fringe stuff!”
Koala – American Idiot – Green Day. Provincial Air Guitar Championship. Photo Julie Santini.
3. Koala – American Idiot – Green Day
Judge Bob : “Beautiful action! Beautiful action!”
Shredder McRocksoff – To Be With You. Provincial Air Guitar Championship. Fringe Show: Look At This Guy . Photo Julie Santini.
4. Shredder McRocksoff – To Be With You – Mr. Big
“You can put your arm around a lover, if you’re here with one.”
Fringe Show: Look At This Guy
The Irish Lady Sister. Provincial Air Guitar Championship 2015. Photo Julie Santini
5. The IrishLadySister – Thunderstruck – ACDC
“DUNCAN!”
Fringe show: 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Hay Len. Cherry Bomb – The Runaways . Photo Julie Santini.
Hay Len. Cherry Bomb – The Runaways . Photo Julie Santini.
6. Hay Len – Cherry Bomb – The Runaways
“I’m a fucking rockstar!”
Rebecca: “I gave you extra points for the army boots.”
Mr. Ames – Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen. Provincial Air Guitar Championship. Photo Julie Santini.
7. Mr. Ames – Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
Al: “He was playing the air radio for most of it, but then it worked out”
Warning: This guy has a driver’s license
Adam Rockit Reider. Provincial Air Guitar Championships. Photo Julie Santini.
8. Adam Air-Blisters Reider – Andrew W.K.
With 5.8 across the board from the judges, he shouts “FUCK YEAH!”
Jenny Page — Violet — Hole. Provincial Air Guitar Championship 2015. Photo Julie Santini
9. Jenny Page – Violet – Hole
“Kurt Cobain is not dead!”
If you read French, check out her blog: YULorama.com
Then, a ‘Brave Souls Round’, where an audience member may qualify as a registered competitor
Bandit. I believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness. Provincial Air Guitar Championship 2015. PHoto Julie Santini.
Brave Soul #1 – Bandit – I believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
Admittedly, Bandit came into this competition secretly hoping he would get to play. Bandit makes it to round 2 after sending the judges into a frenzy.
Provincial Air Guitar Championships 2015. Photo Julie Santini.
The 5 finalists for 2015 are:
1. Hay Len
2. Jenny Page
3. The IrishLadySister
4. Adam Air-blisters Reider
5. Bandit
The final round consists of songs that are randomly selected and that competitors may or may not know. Each competitor performs two one minute songs, which brings us to the end of the competition.
The last championship took place in 2008, to which Blackmore mentions “I went to Nationals in Toronto and was the only girl.”
Provincial Air Guitar Championships 2015. Photo Julie Santini.
Once Amy “Master Mathemagician” Blackmore tallies the scores, the competitor to represent Quebec in nationals and get a super pass to the Montreal Fringe festival of 2015 is : Hay Len!
