Last Saturday at the 7th Street Entry, five up-and-coming Minnesota bands took the stage for the Star Tribune's seventh annual Are You Local? contest. Genres ranged from soul/hip-hop to rock, but ultimately, it was pop that emerged victorious at the best new bands competition.
Holidae, comprising vocalist Ashley Gold and producer Garrett Neal, won the $1,500 and a South by Southwest festival slot. The win also gives the duo an opening spot at the Are You Local? showcase on March 11 in First Avenue's main room. That show will be headlined by Allan Kingdom, and also feature King — the buzzing soul trio with Minneapolis roots — and local hip-hop stars Kill the Vultures.
Mankato band Good Night Gold Dust opened Saturday's sold-out contest with a mix of synthy rock and folk harmonies. Up next, Ness Nite delivered spaced-out alt-R&B. Danami and the Blue followed with a fun soul/hip-hop set that got the crowd dancing. Then the Entry swerved from polish to grit when rock band Dives got on stage. The five-piece brought a big fan base, and empty tallboys began piling up on any given surface. Suddenly, we were at a college show, with the band members going all-in.
Holidae closed out the night with a big pop sound and ample production values, wearing black-and-white, medieval-inspired outfits under blue and purple lights. Joined by Ryan Mach on cymbals/drum pad, Gold and Neal captivated the crowd with music from their unreleased debut album, "Tantrum" (coming April 22). Like Halsey in her spookier moments, Gold met poppy beats in their darkest places, especially on the fifth song. The duo threw their hoods up to perform the dramatic "Darkest Shade." Even though that song is Holidae's only single out so far, the crowd sang the refrain of "better, better, better" with all the sweetness in the world. Gold grinned at the singalong, cheering, "Whaaat?!" The crowd called for an encore.
Another song wasn't to be, but Holidae received its Are You Local? crown in a suspenseful envelope ceremony. When they heard their name, they jumped from behind the backstage curtain, and came out to say thank-you on stage.
"Shout-out to my mom and dad and my brother," Gold laughed. "I am shocked — literally shocked."
Cecilia Johnson is a Twin Cities-based writer.
