A local band is looking for votes in a Battle of the Bands contest to help keep them in the top eight spots, which will guarantee them a chance to perform at a popular Detroit venue.
The band MATTO, that includes Adam Zalucki of Brighton and brothers Giacomo and Anthony Mattioli, 2010 and 2011 graduates of Hartland High School, are currently in an online contest sponsored by The Hard Rock Cafe.
With 250 bands in the running, the top 8 Michigan bands with the most popular vote will be chosen to perform live at the Hard Rock Cafe Detroit.
According the band’s manager and father of the Mattioli brothers, Al Mattioli says the band is currently tied for seventh place.
The winner of the live performance will be judged and move on to the next round that will include winners of the 95 other Hard Rock locations and will be in the running for a grand prize to tour with a national act and $10,000 worth of equipment.
“It’s a long shot,” Al Mattioli said. “But really, right now it’s just to get them the chance to play live down there in Detroit and try to get their music in front of people.”
The band formed in 2007 while the three members were still in high school and started off playing covers, but hopes to find more venues to start playing more of their original music.
“They have their own fresh sound, but they have an underlying tone of classic rock,” Mattioli said. "They have a distinct sound, they don’t sound like anyone else."
MATTO released an album, Here It Comes of 14 songs this past December and found out about the contest after looking into having a CD release party at the Detroit Hard Rock location.
With both Mattioli brothers currently attending Michigan State University and Zalucki at Washtenaw Community College, Mattioli says his sons do travel back home more often for rehearsals and says they are ready for the opportunity to perform.
“They’re ready for it and they are looking good," Mattioli said. "My goal right now is just to get them down there and we’ll call it a win."
The first round of competition will take place on Jan. 28 and Feb. 11, according to the official contest page for Hard Rock Cafe.
