Contest Gives Primal Scream, the Gathering a Shot at Fame

Primal Scream is one of two Orange County rock bands named as semifinalists in Musician magazine’s third annual Best Unsigned Band Contest.

The Gathering, from Placentia, also made the first cut of 60 semifinalists drawn from more than 3,000 entrants.

If Musician staffers pick them in another round of winnowing, Primal Scream and the Gathering, which plays socially conscious rock with country vocal shadings, will have their tapes judged by an illustrious panel of experts: Lou Reed, Robbie Robertson, Vernon Reid, Lyle Lovett and Branford Marsalis. The top 12 to 15 bands will have songs placed on a promotional CD that will be sent to music journalists, radio stations and record labels.

Orange County bands have done well in past Musician contests, with Dexter winning in 1988 and Exude finishing as one of 10 winners included on a special promotional CD in 1989. On the downside, Dexter broke up without ever getting signed, while Exude continues to plug away in the ranks of the unsigned.