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ArtsceneKoetta Black voted as Metroland's Best of the WestBy John BkilaWe didn't know if we wereMETROLAND MEDIA WESTgoing to be able to pull itthrough, but getting overBurlingtons Koetta Black is half of the votes was pretty one step closer to fulfilling its self-proclaimed mission of saving the surprising . . . we're stoked.world from the impending doom of stale music after being voted Joe Favalaro,Metrolands Best of the West battle Koetta Black memberof the bands champion.The band with members Rob ronment. It has locations inBrown (lead vocals and guitar), Joe Burlington, Oakville and Milton.'Strange' Favalaro (lead guitar and Soon after being placed in theback-up vocals), Will Anderson same class, Brown, Favalaro and(bass guitar and back-up vocals), Anderson found they had chemis-and Pat Guschewski (drums) try and instantly clicked as per-captured 65 per cent of votes to formers and expressed a desire towin the regional title in the third form a band to their mentor at theannual competition that pitted school Jason Adams inBurlingtons best band against September of that same year,finalists from Flamborough and Guschewski was introduced asOakville.their drummer and Koetta BlackWere pretty ecstatic. We were officially began to take shape.really happy that people actually Taking a page from the Pinklike our music, said Favalaro, who Floyd notebook, Favalaro said inexplains he, along with his fellow an earlier interview that the ideabandmates, were surprisedKAREN NEWMAN / OAKVILLE BEAVER to for the bands name first camereceive more than half the votes.from combining two of his favou-HAVING FUN:Pictured are members of Burlington's Koetta Black (L-R) Joe 'Strange' Favalaro, Rob Brown (in can), We did think the other bands rite blues musicians, Etta JamesWill Anderson (in can) and Pat Guschewski. Koetta Black won Metroland's Best of the West contest.were pretty good competition, so and Black Ace.we didnt know if we were going to We just wanted to say thanks Milton had no entries this year.chance of getting through at leastSo at first it started out as Ettabe able to pull it through, but just to everyone that voted and well This was the second time Koetta the first round and then we justBlack, bandmate Brown explainedgetting over half of the votes was keep them all updated (on upcom-Black had entered the competi-decided, Hey, we can try andin the Feb. 25 interview.pretty surprising were stoked. ing shows) and well continue to tion, having lost last year in the win this. And then my reaction wasKoetta Black competed in the do our best to keep them interest-preliminary round to Burlington-The members of Koetta Blackyou know what would make it bet-online voting contest against ed, Favalaro said.based We Are Bravest. Oakvilles initially met in May 2008 at theter, adding a K-O in front of it Flamboroughs City of Snow, which The contest sees the Burlington Alright Alright won the first Best of Burlington branch of Rock Thisand it was that simple. With influ-received 22 per cent of votes, and Post, Oakville Beaver, Flamborough the West challenge in 2009.Way! School of Rock.ences such as Green Day, Sum 41,Oakvilles Bounty (13 per cent) to ReviewandMilton Canadian-We found out that the band The school, located at 3390Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mustardplay at Burlingtons Sound of Champion newspapers invite bands that won last year had broken up Mainway, is a learning centre com-Plug, the punk rock group releasedMusic Festival on Fathers Day from their respective communities and we lost to them in the first plete with studios, devoted totheir first EP,As The World Burns,weekend (June 16-19) the con-to enter and to post a single video round last year, said Favalaro, So, developing musical skills in ain 2009, featuring four tracks.See Winning page 28tests top prize.of their music on YouTube.we thought we might have a better friendly, non-intimidating envi-www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 25, 2011 24