The Tribune

By FARAH

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

The award winning local rock band Avante Guarden is gearing for the biggest performance of their musical career during the Global Battle of the Bands competition in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s very own “City of Music”.

It has been a full month since capturing the title at the local Battle of the Bands competition, where they were named Best Band in the Bahamas.

Since 2012, Avante Guarden has been preparing for a comeback since falling short on their first try. They have made a name for themselves over the past year, landing gig after gig at several restaurants and hang out spots in Nassau. They are currently building a following at Senor Frogs, where they perform every Saturday night.

If named winner of GBOB which takes place on February 8, Avante Guarden will be awarded $100,000 worth of cash and band development packages, as well as a golden statuette for “Best New Band in the World”. The band is expected to leave the Bahamas on February 3.

Avante Guarden’s participation alone in the global event can open up doors of opportunity. But for right now, the bands is focused on doubling up on practice sessions to ensure they are fully prepared for the journey ahead, said Vallon Thompson, guitarist.
“We work together all the time so we are always practicing and playing. We will however be intensifying our rehearsals this month. I will be the first to admit we could be more organised; we are working on it. We do have all our songs together and ready to go. We perform them at live at Senor Frogs every week so we are ready,” he said.

Most of the songs performed at GBOB Bahamas, including “The Difference”, “The Fade”, “Enter The Garden”, and “Cross The Waters” will also be performed during the competition in Thailand.

On January 16 the band is hosting a performance at Compass Point so fans can see them in action.

Aside from performance gigs and practice sessions the band has also kept up with a number of interviews in regards to the trip. Vallon said they have been doing all they can to get their music out there and get support from the Bahamian people.

Avante Guarden also sought counsel from members of Stinkin’ Wayz, GBOB Bahamas’ 2012 winners, who emerged third in the international competition.

“I see Colyn Mcdonald (Stinkin’ Wayz member) as a great friend and mentor. He has been giving us advise and helping us prepare the recordings of our songs to take with us to Thailand.

“We obviously want to win but we are just excited about taking our music to the world,” Vallon said.

JayneDoh lead singer along with Vallon Thompson originally formed Avante Guarden in 2009. These dynamic hard rockers took on their home town the best way they knew how, as loud as they could.

As a guitarist and song writer, Vallon has been involved in music for about fifteen years. While he is very into rock music, Vallon said he also loves Jazz, Pop, Calypso, Metal, Country and Blues.

Although constantly surrounded by traditional Bahamian music such as Rake N Scrape and Junkanoo, JayneDoh said Vallon is drawn more into heavy metal.

The band members that complete Avante Guarden are Kingsley “Rev” Wilkinson on drums, Treco “Souse” Johnson on bass, Gary Francis taking up duties on guitar, JayneDoh and Vallon.