The often criticized Iowa music scene saw new light this fall when close to 100 bands submitted music for a Battle of the Bands competition taking place in Des Moines during November and December.

The Battle of the Bands project was put together by central Iowa radio station KKDM 107.5 with the main goal of giving a local band the opportunity to make it to a national level.

“It’s all up to the media,” battle coordinator and KKDM Music Director Sophia John said. “By egging the local musicians on, you start to create a scene.”

“We’re trying to make everybody wake up and realize that we could have our very own 311. We won’t need to go to Omaha to see a band with national success.”

Earlier this fall, a selection committee surveyed the entries and chose eight bands for the competition. The goal of the judges was to compile a group of bands with different styles and at different stages of development.

“It’s been very well organized as far as by the book and legitimate,” John said. “None of the sponsors are judges so it is as unbiased as possible.”

John added that selection of the bands was not based on quality of the submitted piece. “We got tapes of bands playing in their basements and all sorts of things.”

The selected bands cover a wide array of music ranging from the young ska-punk Skullcaps to the industrial powerhouse Stone Sour. “People are beginning to realize that Iowa’s not all ’80s hair bands,”John said.

The event began Oct. 30 and continued each Wednesday night of November, with two bands battling a night. After performing a full set at the Safari Club in Des Moines, five judges critiqued the bands on musicianship, originality and stage presence.

John said the judges looked at how tight the bands performed and how well they communicated on stage.

Four of the judges were members of the Des Moines entertainment media, while audience members served as the fifth. One collective vote was compiled as each spectator filled out a comment card at the show.

In first-round competition, Black Caesar defeated Inbred, Smiling Jack won over the Ames quintet Good Things, Maelstrom beat out the Skull Caps and in the closest matchup, Slipknot escaped Stone Sour.

“In reality, both Slipknot and Stone Sour won,” John said. “I would keep a close eye on both those bands.”

Each of the bands that participated were rewarded with a $200 gift certificate at Rieman Music in Des Moines. The weekly winner during the first round was also given a guest spot on KKDM’s Mac and Amy show.

As the battle moves into the second round tonight, Black Caesar and Smiling Jack will compete for the chance to battle with Slipknot or Maelstrom for the grand prize of $1,000 in cash and a fully produced master demo from S.R. Audio that will be presented to major record companies.

The winner will also get the opportunity to open for a yet to be announced national act that will be coming to Des Moines within the next year.

“S.R. Audio has said they will offer 40 to 50 hours to help the winner record a very high quality product,” John said. “Their goal is to make the band feel comfortable and not rushed.”

Since the event began, KKDM has been playing some of submitted music on its local music show State of Independence. The program runs at midnight every week night.

“I also have a list of all the bands and what they sound like,”she explained. “So when bands come through town, it will be easier to pair them up with an opener.”

Although the event is labeled a battle, John said the bands have been very supportive of each other.

“It’s been great,” she said. “It’s nice to see the bands supporting one another. I think they are realizing that it doesn’t have to be us against them.”

Combine radio stations that play new music and a growing amount of band support and, John said, Iowa’s music scene should turn around within a year or so.

“Give it some time,” she said. “It will happen.”