Arroyo Deathmatch plucked, drummed, and ukulele-ed its way to a first-place finish at UNM’s Battle of the Bands.
The band’s flutist Beth Hansen said the group assumed its unique folk-punk sound wasn’t what judges wanted to hear.
“We thought we were out of the winning, because we’re acoustic, and you wouldn’t want an acoustic band playing Fiestas, so we just went for the experience,” she said.
Three friends, who went to high school together in Los Alamos, organized the band a year and half ago. Alex DenBaars and Hansen, the group’s nucleus, said its washboard player joined a few months ago and its percussionist was added only weeks ago.
Still, the band’s cohesiveness was effectual. It arrived just before its set, and because it was close to the end of the lineup, it didn’t see many bands perform. Just like it was for all the bands that competed, the show was a networking opportunity for Arroyo Deathmatch.
The band toured the West Coast twice and the Southwest three times, giving away 75 percent of its merchandise typically and never playing a show for more than a $5 cover charge, DenBaars said.
Jes Martin, the group’s cellist and accordionist, said the band’s sound and nontraditional instruments — flute, cello, accordion, homemade suitcase drum, washboard and ukulele — stood in stark contrast to the typical rock sound.
“We’re not just another band with guitar, bass, drums, vocals,” she said.
Having either attended or played in the event all four years he’s been at UNM, Mike Mares, a member of third-place band the Noms, said Battle of the Bands recognizes lesser-known talents.
“In competing for that one thing, you get to experience music that you wouldn’t really experience on your own,” he said. “It’s a good start to building a community … I’m really advocating for a music community in Albuquerque, because it’s just such a small city, but there are so many good musicians and bands and different genres.”
It so happens that Arroyo Deathmatch is one of those small bands, but Mares said its stage presence was big-time.
“Overall I thought it was a good time, good vibe,” he said. “A good band is all about energy, presence, how you present yourself, and I thought they did a great job.”
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
DenBaars said the band, which has four albums out, will continue to record and play at venues.
“When we go on tour, it’s like seeing friends,” he said. “Mostly we’re just going place to place being like, ‘Hey guys!’ I don’t think we have fans; we generally have friends. I think that’s a better way to do it, and it’s definitely worked for us.”
