Donuts and DJs pair up to find new talent

Considering you can't even walk a block in Boston without inhaling the sweet scent wafting from one of the city's thousands of Dunkin' Donuts coffee shops, it sometimes seems the world's largest donut chain is dominating more than pastries.

It turns out that they are.

Dunkin Donuts, in conjunction with the Little Steve Van Zandt, has made its way into the music industry.

The partnership is sponsoring the first "Underground Garage Battle of the Bands" and will soon be making their way across the country in search of America's undiscovered talent.

Steven Van Zandt, an acclaimed record producer and advocate for untainted rock and roll, has been the DJ of his own radio show "Little Steven's Underground Garage" since 2002.

Van Zandt has written songs for several well-known artists and was one of the founding members of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and his show features an eclectic mix of garage rock that includes music by the White Stripes, the Ramones, the Kinks, and Jet.

Though music and donuts appear to have little in common, Dunkin' Donuts said it is an eager and welcome participant in the sponsorship, as the corporation can provide the much needed funding for this kind of event in the name of a shared vision.

"As a company, Dunkin' Donuts represents many of the same unpretentious and authentic characteristics of good old rock 'n roll that we celebrate with this effort. It's a great time in music to support garage bands and we are excited to be a part of the movement," John Gilbert, the Vice President of Marketing at Dunkin' Donuts, said in a press release.

Van Zandt shared the coffee shop's enthusiasm. "Dunkin' Donuts support for the Underground Garage makes events like this possible," he said in a press release. "The 'Underground Garage Battle of the Bands' will go a long way in helping us continue our mission to bring the coolest music in the world to a whole new generation, and it's just the beginning."

While all interested bands are welcome to participate in the pair's "rock 'n' roll revolution," bands are only eligible if they submit a completed entry form along with a demo by the designated deadline. The deadline for Tufts bands to submit their demo tapes is Wednesday, March 31.

Submitted demos will be sent Van Zandt's production company, Renegade Nation, and then will be reviewed by a panel of music experts, according to a recent press release. All bands are encouraged to participate, but only twenty will be chosen to perform in the contest's regional playoffs. Selected groups will have a chance to compete in cities along the east coast and throughout the Midwest, and those from New England will perform on April 15, 16, and 17 in Boston at The Matrix at The Roxy.

Regional winners will be eligible to perform on July 22 in New York City at Little Steven's Underground Garage Rock Festival, where the national winner will be chosen.

The grand prize winner will be invited to play in New York alongside top acts from across generations of rock-n-roll in Little Steven's Underground Garage Rock Festival, according to the press release, and other winners will receive top of the line music equipment as well as an entry in the New York competition.

The contest offers an unprecedented opportunity to undiscovered bands and pays homage to the enduring culture of rock and roll. And donuts. At all of the events, there will be lots of donuts.

Tufts bands should go to www.rockingarage.com to download an official entry form. Forms and demos are to be sent to Renegade Nation by Wednesday, March 31.