'Rock Band' fans flock to the Palace for contest

Drumsticks flare and fingers fly as four sets of eyes stare intently at the big-screen TV in Missoula’s couch-infested Palace Lounge. Lead-vocal, drum, bass and lead-guitar parts flash across the screen in rapid succession as the four players try to keep up. 

They’re playing “Rock Band,” the latest Xbox game that is a video mix of “Guitar Hero” and sketchy bar karaoke. Each player has a plastic replica of an instrument in hand, including a full drum set and a realistic microphone. But this is more than an impromptu garage-band practice; it’s training for the upcoming “Rock Band” tournament to be held at the Badlander.

Admittedly, a video game tournament may sound a little odd, but organizer and Golden Rose bartender Joe Hopkins explains.

“We started out by having a ‘Guitar Hero’ night every Sunday at the Golden Rose. Then we started thinking: ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we could have a ‘Rock Band’ tournament?’”

Soon after asking that question, news of the tournament spread by word-of-mouth, and Hopkins ended up with eight eager pseudo-rock band applicants on his hands, ready to shred.

“We have some pretty great band names too,” Hopkins says. “There’s Buggery With A Badger, The Bloody Hatchet Wound, Chewy and the Light Speed Legends, and Ragin’ Water Buffalo.”

Besides entertaining band names, the game provides a range of popular songs, from Weezer to Bon Jovi, Aerosmith to David Bowie, and some more modern favorites like OK Go. The bands practice these and other songs every Tuesday and Thursday in anticipation of the tournament championship in three to four weeks. Organizers haven’t set a final date yet, because they’re hoping a few more teams will enter.

“It’s pretty darn addicting once you start playing,” says Badlander co-owner Scott McIntyre. “Plus entry is free, so why not?”

And if that’s not enough to get your chord fingers itching, the tournament prize is $500, and free drink specials are offered to players.

“I mean, who doesn’t want to win $500 playing a video game?” says Ragin’ Water Buffalo guitarist Sumurti Patel.

Anyone who hangs out in the proverbial parents’ basement of the Palace long enough can hear stories of fake rock excess, inter-band drama, and the inevitable inflated egos.

“We definitely have a few people who are developing the rock star mentality,” Hopkins says. “They’ll definitely put on a good show.”

The game itself becomes a show as players bungle notes or fall behind and have to get bailed out by their band mates. The players who are really struggling get kicked out of the song, but a feature in the video game allows other players who are doing well to resurrect their failed buddies. Cursing and headshaking abound as onlookers watch the drama unfold. The organizers of the tournament are also banking on a nominal crowd interest to keep the rock atmosphere authentic.

“People will cruise in to play pool and they end up staying for half an hour,” Hopkins says. “It’s kind of engrossing.”

Organizers are still accepting entries for the final show at the Badlander. Signups are available at the Palace, Golden Rose, and Badlander, with band rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.