Apples vs. oranges

Hefty discussions can arise over taste – but seldom in such an entertaining way as at Red Bull Sound Clash. At the decibel duel, two totally contrasting bands have to try and win over crowd and jury alike using show, spirit and talent for improvisation. Recently in Russia and New Zealand this led to a whole night of partying.

What’s better, a rock band or a soul collective? A jazz combo or a hiphop crew? What as a discussion topic can lead to a dogged infinite loop as a party motto activates a simmering racket– at least in the case of Red Bull Soundclash, a musical head-to-head battle, that first took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 2007.

‘... the most hilarious gig we’ve ever done’

Although at the end it’s not so important who really emerges victorious from the duel, it’s fought with maximum input (but not always the maximum of seriousness) – recently in Sochi, Russia, and Auckland, New Zealand. Elemeno P bassist Lani Purkis described Red Bull Soundclash in Auckland as the ‘ most hilarious gig we’ve ever done.’ On August 22 his rock band competed against the Opensouls.

A tie in Auckland

The first round was won by the rockers thanks to their cover version of ‘I Got You’. In the second – the ‘take-over’ round, where one band has to finish the song that the other started, Opensouls got their revenge in a particularly painful way. Their cover version of an Elemeno P song got more votes than the original. But after four rounds, things were equal: the jury had to accept a ‘tie’.

Black hats, white hats

The second Red Bull Soundclash to take place that evening was held on the other side of the globe. In sunny Sochi on the ‘Russian Riviera’ the hiphop crew Kasta took on Billy’s Band jazzers in the ring or on stage. The crowd, separated into two camps – black hats for Billy’s Band fans, white ones for Kasta’s – didn’t need a lot of animation to party. There was a great mood on and in front of the stage especially in the round where both bands had to exchange lead singers. In the end, the jazz group lost the duel and Kasta took home the prize.