Chemical Mass wins first round of Bands Battle 4 the Badges

March 8, 2018 at 4:50 a.m. | Updated March 8, 2018 at 11:37 a.m.

Collin Krabbe/News Tribune Steve Walters sings an original song during the first round of the Bands Battle 4 the Badges music competition March 3 at The Bridge in Jefferson City. His band, Chemical Mass, was voted the best out of three contestants and will be playing during the final round of the contest, which takes place at the end of the month.
Collin Krabbe/News Tribune Steve Walters sings an original song during the first round of the Bands Battle 4 the Badges music competition March 3 at The Bridge in Jefferson City. His band, Chemical Mass, was voted the best out of three contestants and will be playing during the final round of the contest, which takes place at the end of the month.

Chemical Mass claimed the round one title in the inaugural Bands Battle 4 the Badges music competition, which started March 3 at The Bridge and benefits SafetyNet of Missouri.

A five-piece hard rock group from the Capital City, Chemical Mass started hitting the Mid-Missouri music scene in early 2014, releasing a four-track demo with featured original songs such as "Denial" and "Nibiru" and two more singles since. The band went up against electro/pop punk band Here's Hoping and rock trio Seconds Till Sunrise during week one of the month-long contest and will advance to the finals March 31.

Another finalist will be named among week two's three band competitors Saturday.

Travis Feutz will take the stage Saturday, delivering his original storytelling blend of country, Americana and folk music to audiences. Griff and Greens, of Jefferson City, will deliver some deep roots blues, gifted songwriting, strong vocals and talented finger-picking to this week's competition. Collin County Steel and Wire rounds out the second battle in their hometown, bridging together blues and grunge among elements of other genres.

At each event, members of the public can vote for their favorite along with two celebrity judges based on performance, audience reaction and overall energy. After Saturday, two more preliminary Bands Battle 4 the Badges competitions with three different bands will take place March 17 and March 24. The four preliminary finalists will face off in the last competition March 31, with one band claiming the 2018 Bands Battle 4 the Badges championship title.

REO Feedwagaon will be on site to sell food to guests, who can enter to win a variety of weekly prize drawings and a 50/50 prize drawing starting at 5 p.m. each Saturday. Theo's Midtown, Paddy Malone's, Gumbo Bottoms Ale House, Spectators, Shrunken Head Tropic Lounge, Goodrich Quality Theaters, Pita Pit and others have contributed to those drawings.

Doors open at noon Saturday at with performances beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15, with all proceeds benefiting SafetyNet.

Operating since 2012, SafetyNet of Missouri has generated resources to support families of fallen heroes in Boone and Cole counties. For more information, visit safetynetmo.org.

Keep up with Bands Battle 4 the Badges, its finalists and the big finale each week on NewsTribune.com.

Upcoming Events