News from 2012 LBS Winners, BIG Something

This week we caught up with Nick MacDaniels of BIG Something, the 2012 “Last Band Standing” winner.“Last band standing was the most prestigious 'Battle of the Bands' that we've ever participated in,” said MacDaniels. “You could tell there was a lot of passion and integrity that went into organizing the event.”BIG Something was able to reach a new audience while supporting Urban Ministries of Wake County, Band Together’s 2012 nonprofit partner. They encouraged their fans to donate as many cans as possible for the event’s canned food drive, resulting in “the most canned food” they’d ever seen in one room.  New fans were gained that night as well; one in particular has seen the band about 40 times since first discovering them at Last Band Standing.“When we found out we won, it was an incredibly happy moment for the band and our families,” said MacDaniels.The best part about winning Last Band Standing was securing the opening slot for Band Together’s 2012 main event, also featuring Southern Culture on the Skids and headliners the B-52s at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.“It was surreal; the largest crowd we ever played for by far and so much fun watching a massive audience like that get in to our original music,” said MacDaniels.” There are people who saw us for the first time at that show that are now some of our most dedicated fans, travelling all over to come see us play in clubs and smaller venues.“BIG Something continues to refine their sound and become tighter as a group. Their gigs have gotten more attention both locally and out of state, packing places like Raleigh’s Lincoln Theatre and Wilmington’s Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre, in addition to traveling to South Carolina and Florida.If you’ve been able to see BIG Something live, you’re familiar with how engaging and personal their show feels. MacDaniels commented that the band’s North Carolina roots are a big part in this.“We love our NC friends and family. There are people in NC who have been supporting us for years and we couldn't have made it where we are without them,” he said. “We love interacting creatively with our NC audiences and this has become a big part of what we do. We love and encourage our fans to bring props, light up toys, costumes, signs, anything that helps add to the spectacle.”The band is currently recording their next studio album, produced by Grammy nominee John Custer of Raleigh, due out this fall. They’ve been touring in support of the release, with shows from Florida to Vermont and everywhere in between. Looking past the album, there will also be Big Something’s annual Halloween extravaganza at Lincoln Theatre – the BIG Something Costume Ball, on Thursday, October 31.The next Triangle show for BIG Something will be Oak City 7 free concert series on Thursday, August 8 in Raleigh’s City Plaza.