Every day this week, we'll introduce you to a pair of our Searchlight contenders who are going head-to-head in a sudden death vote to make it to the Searchlight Top 4. Click here to vote for your favourites.
This week, it's a western battle as Searchlighters Elton Adams (from Winnipeg, Man.) and the Good Ol' Goats (from Cranbrook, B.C.) vie for a spot in the final four.
Like many singer-songwriters, Winnipeg's Adams has a day job — but it's certainly not waiting tables. Adams joined the Canadian Forces at the age of 17 and hasn't looked back since. His career has included a tour in Bosnia and two tours in Afghanistan.
"Military and the music is a perfect mix, it's my outlet," says Adams. "It's the best way I know how to explain myself."
For the most part, the songs on both of Adams's full-length albums are about life as a soldier and the problems and emotions they encounter.
"My music isn't just about me, it's about raising awareness for our soldiers and our families. The best way I can help our troop is to write music, and it's been an incredible ride so far."
It isn't just the military and their families that are voting for Adams in the contest — he says his family and friends back in his home province of Newfoundland are cheering for him as well. "It's just so humbling, they're voting every day, on every device they can get their hands on ... I'm just very thankful."
Click below to hear Adams's song "My Canadian Girls" (and click here to listen to his Searchlight entry, "Gunslinger").
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"My Canadian Girls" by Elton Adams feat. Julian Austin
In this showdown, the Gunslinger's against — the Goats? The Good Ol' Goats, that is. The Cranbrook band originally started out as an Ozzy Osbourne cover band, but thanks to a musical composition class and discovering acts like Edward Sharpe and the Magnet Zeros, Mumford & Sons and Canadian indie acts like Dan Mangan and Aidan Knight, the Goats traded in their jeans and amps for overalls and banjos.
And it turns out the Goats aren't that ol' at all — in fact, none of them are legal to drink at the bars where they perform!
Searchlight may not be all about the fame and (moderate) fortune, but the band's newfound success has definitely caused a stir at the Goats' high school. Says the band's music teacher, Evan Bueckert: students are skipping class to watch the Goats' band practise and even the district superintendent, who's encouraging the administration to buy their debut album, has stopped by. Students at Mount Baker have been buying up so many CDs that there aren't enough left for the local music stores.
"Everyone is treating them like rock stars, which is funny to me because they are so shy and humble normally that it embarrasses them!" says Bueckert.
Click below to hear the Good Ol' Goats' song "Man of the Mountains" (and click here to listen to their Searchlight entry song, "The Train").
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"Man of the Mountains" by The Good Ol' Goats
And there you have it, the fourth and final pair in the showdown to make it to the next round of Searchlight! Click here to vote daily for your favourites.
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