SO. The Break Contest at The Chance has finally come to a close after about 5 months of hard work---pestering people to see me, flyer-ing strangers, losing track of ticket money, laptops falling, waters spilling, the list goes on---and the end result is in: We're playing the Hip-Hip stage at Bamboozle on May 2nd, bitches! We'll be sharing the stage with Grieves, Sam Adams, Wiz Khalifa, Wale, and so so many more. Also performing that day (I chose to play sunday over saturday, obviously!) are Kevin Devine, MGMT, Weezer, Ke$ha, Minus the Bearrrr, Devil Wears Prada, etc etc etc.!! It's going to be so dope. So. Dope. I know I don't need to say this, but I better see you all there.

Although momentarily I only know as many details as you do, I'm going to explain exactly what happened:

We rocked it. Absolutely rocked it. But rewind, to booking manager Ralph Garcia prompting me to join the Break Contest. Some ambiguous competition that happens on the east and on the west coast. For indie bands to play Bamboozle? Hell yeah, I'll give it a shot.

With no idea how it really worked, (and still not a complete idea) I rocked the first round. Brought out mad kids, tore the roof off. However, in round two, there were a bunch of unexpected conflicts for fans and I only had two school weeks selling tickets. I learned that while the contest started with about 150 bands (6 preliminary rounds), a handful of bands from each day advanced. So we did aightttt, held our own, and made it to the finals. I got some of the competition's ambiguity cleared up: each venue runs the contest independently of the others and advances a winner to Bamboozle this May.

To be honest, I expected to rock it and not even place. The older bands' bus loads (literally, bus loads) of people in the preliminary rounds were totally intimidating and impossible to compete with. Which leads me to say I owe everything to my fans who came out in the Final Round and repped hard. We had an early set time, four thirty to be exact, and we proceeded some really good bands. The judges were giving instant feedback this time, as in after a band finishes playing, they get ripped, American Idol style, and voted on a 0-10 scale. These judges were legit, too. Mark, the owner of Glamour Kills and a Warner Bros. coordinated record label. Or John D, the founder of Bamboozle...for example.

So we get on stage. After being there like three hours in advance and scoping out some stiff competition (Our only Reason and The Closers rocked it). The crowd is fantastic, literally filling every corner of my eyesight. And just being obnoxiously vocally awesome for me. So we play...Old Armor, A Bad Case of the Gimmies (thanks Mel, you rocked it on violin!), Lose Yourself (I'm going to upload a video of this soon, probably the best thing we've ever done live), Treehouse 1 (see picture!), and then----cut off! We're suddenly informed that we can't do How To Stay Young because of a nonexistent four-song limit. Whatever. It still went super well.

We get our scores: 9.5, 9.5, and an 8. The highest of the day so far. "Perfect" in the words of the first two judges. "Needs more swagger" (I'm not kidding) in the words of John D. I can take that. Got some good suggestions and some interesting ones.

I was feeling good at this point. I was honored to perform in front of that crowd. Wow. Best ever. I applaud you guys. I find out I'm in first place, and now I gotta stay till the end of the night when they announce the winner.
Turns out, Take One Car beat me in their judges' scores. They got a 28 while I got a 27. Close in second....crowd votes determine everything at the end of the night.

Evazan plays it and rocks it. I scream for Ralph and even pretend to sing the words that I don't know. I owe him so much, so that's what I give in return. haha. My voice, which is gone and couldn't record today.

The end of the night comes and I decide this is one of the most nerve-racking (properly used expression?) moments of my life. As far as I understood the contest at that point in time, one band plays Bamboozle, one band plays Bamboozle and a talent showcase to win a Mainstage slot, and one band plays the Bamboozle roadshow at Six Flags.
They call three bands' names, none of which are 'Take One Car,' 'Evazan,' or 'Dylan Owen.' We're all thoroughly disappointed and confused and confounded for like one full minute. Giving each other consolation hugs..

Then they call another name which will be performing at the "B-Boy" stage at Bamboozle. I throw up my water bottle and hug Flynn. Super GAY. But definitely a glorious, min-dag moment. We both climb up on to the stage and choose to play May 2nd.

Evazan and Take one car also win, making this the best possible outcome. Five bands playing Bamboozle? One of them playing Six Flags? I guess I really didn't understand the contest rules.

All I know is that I'll be sharing the stage with some of my favorite artists, and sharing the day with a whole handful of them. I need to do this right, ya know, get millions of flyers and posters made, mass-produce some CDs (I wish Senioritis was finished!), and prepare prepare prepare to rock it. Because it's actually going to be clinically insane.

Once again, I think all you guys and gals that came out and supported (or supported me however you could!) for your ceaseless efforts. I think I am in love with you. And I definitely, definitely owe ya one.

You all DID WORK. And for that I am thankful, I am ecstatic, and I am performing at Bamboozle in less than a month.
Dylan Owen.