SugrHi

Two local music acts are in the running in a nationwide contest looking for the next big female-fronted band.

Kimberly G. Bianco, a pop singer from Whitehall Township, and Beyond The Words, a rock band from Mount Pocono, have entered the “Small Town Sound” band search created by maurices specialty and fashion stores with PlayNetwork and Sonicbids.

Three regional acts -- GANG, an electronic/dance/DJ from Phoenixville; Mary Scholz, an acoustic singer from Plymouth Meeting; and SugrHi, an alternative band from Norristown – also are in the running among more than 500 bands that entered.

Through Nov. 15, people can go to www.maurices.com to check out the profiles and audio tracks for the local bands, along with the rest of the contestants from across the country.

The votes will narrow the field to 50, from which a group of panelists -- including The Bangles, The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde and indie rock group Sick of Sarah -- will trim the field to 10 finalists. Bands will then have two weeks to create an original song based on the “Small Town Sound” theme.

On Dec. 1, online voting will reopen and people will vote a final time on the best original song to determine the grand prize winner and the two runners up.

“We’re blown away by the number of submissions received for “Small Town Sound,” said maurices District Manager Danielle Munley. “This is an exciting contest that inspires women to take a chance on their dreams. The enthusiasm from artists has been fantastic, and now we want fans to vote and support their hometown favorites.”

The grand prize-winning band will perform live at their local maurices and receive a trip to Los Angeles to shoot a music video and record their winning song at the PlayNetwork production studio. They’ll also get gifts from maurices and Daisy Rock Guitars as well as the opportunity to perform at a major national music festival this spring with The Bangles and Sick of Sarah.

People who vote will get a maurices coupon and will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of 13 maurices shopping sprees valued at $100 to $1,000. Winners will be drawn and notified Jan. 5. - The Morning Call - Allentown

"SugrHi may surprise you. This all girl, Alt-Rock power trio has been rocking venues since 2003 with the inception of their self titled debut album. Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Erin Fox fuses rock n’ roll chops with pop sensibility and a natural born talent that can’t be taught or manufactured. Drummer/Backing Vocalist Katie Fox is the anchor of the band, her tasteful playing and bombastic style drive the songs home. Bassist/Backing Vocalist Karley Cohen ties everything together with her almost over the top yet tasteful playing style. They have played such venues as Crocodile Rock, The Wildwood Irish Festival, Lickety Split, Bensalem’s TD Bank Amphitheater, and the Palombaro Club amongst many others. SugrHi has supported national acts as varied as Stroke 9, Amy Kuney, and Warsaw. They’ve also had a single and an appearance featured in the motion picture “Jack of Clubs.” Their next single is set to be released this winter, Produced by Artie Amici and M31 Productions." - OneNineFourSixZero.com

Describe the best gig you ever had.

Erin: We've had so many great gigs together, but I think the ones that stick out in my memory were the ones where we had the most fun together ... those being Wildwood Irish Fest '08, Girls on the Run Fest '08 or our recent comeback at the Triumph in Philly.

Julia: My reunion gig with SugrHi at the Triumph Brewery in Olde City, Philly.

Katie: The best was our most recently past gig: the Triumph Brewery in Olde City, Philadelphia.

Name three things you cannot live without?

Erin: Three is tough. I'd probably choose music, a writing utensil, and my band.

Julia: bass guitar, oxygen, food.

Katie: Music (and all things pertaining ... like my drum set), my sister Erin, and my bass player Julia.

What musician and/or band would you most like to meet?

Erin: Alive: Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple, Yngwie Malmsteen, the remaining members of Zeppelin and Rush. Dead: Lennon, Hendrix, Joplin, all the great ones.

Julia: Jared Leto

Katie: Trent Reznor and Muse.

You can flip a switch that will wipe any band or musical artist off the earth. Who is it?

Erin: None actually. If you think of the world with the perspective of the butterfly effect theory, then you shouldn't really want to wipe anything off of the earth. It would throw the whole universe off balance.

Julia: 3OH!3

Katie: Soulja Boy

You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put in place?

Erin: Well my first rule would be that there has to be soap and everyone has to use it because germs are gross and otherwise the whole society would probably just eventually get sick and die ... cleanliness is a must.

Julia: I'd have to say that cooperation is a must, so I would suggest that once a leader is chosen, any rulings made by said leader are final.

Katie: Everyone has to do their part. That's the first rule, because if you want to live harmoniously in an environment such as an island ... you'll have to carry some weight. - The Mercury

"All-girl band SugrHi of Norristown finished second, winning a Pro Tools kit from Best Buy" - http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/reality/2009/10/01/bensalems-9th-life-wins-10th-annual-battle-of-b

"Rain set in, and though it was soon falling fast, the crowd was too smitten with SugrHi lead singer Erin Fox to notice. The young men were forever swooning as they waved their cell phones in the air and yelled flattering comments at the band..." - Bucks County Courier Times

"SugrHi - An honest to goodness female rock trio performing their own melodic original songs" - Derek Sivers