It is time to resume play in our tournament to determine—once and for all—rock’s greatest backing band ever.

The first two rounds have been completed. The attached grid shows where we stand as we enter the Regionals: REGIONALS 12/23/11

Feel free to think ahead to coming Regional battles as you begin work on the present conference match up. Meanwhile, tournament play resumes with the Legacy Conference. Four backing bands remain: The Crickets vs The Tennessee Two and The Texas Playboys vs The Famous Flames.

Because the selections from this point forward are so crucial to future generations’ understanding of rock history, play will follow a different course of action in this round. Before any voting can take place, Townspeople are encouraged to post comments and YouTube clips of the backing bands you support in this round. You may begin launching your campaigns now. After a few days of lobbying and counter-lobbying the poll for this conference’s regional round will open. We don’t want any rash votes on Day 1 that you may regret on Day 3 of discussion. Dig?

VOTING IS NOW OPEN THROUGH Monday, January 9 @ 11:59 pm.

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Round 2 of the Expansion Conference

Four matches will determine the fate of the 8 teams surviving Round 1 of Expansion Conference tournament play. As in the opening round of play, please use this space to argue for your favorite backing band in each contest, using any or all of the following criteria, including criteria not listed here: 

• Ability to support the bandleader’s musical agenda/vision
• Additional musical contribution to the bandleader’s sound/vision
• Look and other supporting “rock superhero powers”
• Catchiness of backing band’s name

Round 2 of Expansion Conference play runs through Wednesday, December 21 at 5:59 pm. You may log your vote on each contestant in the Round 2 games through the polls on the following page. 

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Rebel Conference Round 2

Four matches will determine the fate of the 8 teams surviving Round 1 of Rebel Conference tournament play. As in the opening round of play, please use this space to argue for your favorite backing band in each contest, using any or all of the following criteria, including criteria not listed here:

• Ability to support the bandleader’s musical agenda/vision
• Additional musical contribution to the bandleader’s sound/vision
• Look and other supporting “rock superhero powers”
• Catchiness of backing band’s name

Round 2 of Rebel Conference play runs through Monday, December 19 at 11:59 am. You may log your vote on each contestant in the Round 2 games through the polls on the following page.

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Workin' overtime!

In a secret second overtime period The Blockheads eked out a victory over The Furious Five for the final slot in the second round of Rock Town Hall’s tournament to determine—once and for all—Rock’s Greatest Backing Band. The decisive shot, with time expiring, was a 12-foot baseline jumper by bassist Norman Watt-Roy off an inbound pass from Chaz Jankel. With only 7 seconds remaining the Furious Five briefly took a 1-point lead following a steal and tomahawk dunk by producer/”The Message” cowriter Ed “Duke Bootee” Fletcher. “In retrospect,” a dejected Fletcher said after the contest, “I could have slowed it down, taken a few more ticks off the clock, and laid it in. Probably would have been fouled in the process.”

The updated brackets leading into tomorrow’s Round 2 games among the Legacy and Rebel Conferences can be downloaded here: Round 2, Rock’s Greatest Backing Band Ever Tournament. Round 2 games for the Expansion and Classic Conferences will follow beginning Monday, December 19.

Previously…

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