"I guess nobody else had sounded similar to us which would have set us apart. We kind of draw on [African-American] funk and artists like Larry Green," he said.
"We've been playing together for about eight or nine years now... We came second [in Somekfreerockquest] last year and third the year before with our old band, RPM."
The other members of Joe's Van are Cormac Seymour on electric guitar and Rory Priest on drums.
Second place in the band category went to Liquid Sun, with members from Katikati and Waihi Colleges. They are Josh Brown on drums, Beau Twyford on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Simon Ruddell on bass, and Bede Bailey on lead guitar and backing vocals.
Georgia Lines from Bethlehem College topped the solo/duo section, competing against the region's three best acts in the category. She says that her unique voice and lyric combo set her apart from other singer-songwriters.
"I get inspirations for my songs at the weirdest of times in the weirdest of places. Many times, I find conversations with people or dare I say it... eaves dropping into conversations in public places the most interesting. I'll sit on the bus pretending to listen to music, with my headphones in and writing down the conversation or parts that would make great lyrics."
Georgia also won the Smokefree Award for Women's Musicianship.
Second place in the solo/duo section and the APRA Lyric Writers Award went to Ben Mollison from Bethlehem College.
These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection for the national final at Auckland's Q Theatre on Saturday, September 27.
Founder and director Glenn Common said from here on the Bay of Plenty finalists would have to work hard to make the most of the opportunity Smokefree Rockquest offered.
"They now send in video footage of their original music that will be judged in August as we lead up to the national final," he said.
"It's a process that demands creativity and musical ability, as well as learning to work together as a group and developing the organisation skills they'll need if they're going to make it on the Kiwi music scene."
The full list of awards made last night was:
Band 1st Place: Joe's Van, Mt Maunganui College
Band 2nd Place: Liquid Sun, Katikati College, Waihi College
Solo/Duo 1st Place: Georgia Lines, Bethlehem College
Solo/Duo 2nd Place: Ben Mollison, Bethlehem College
Third placed band, winning musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Phonics, Otumoetai College
APRA Lyric Award: Ben Mollison, Bethlehem College
Lowdown Best Song: Phonics, Otumoetai College
The Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national final: Jake Nicholas, bass player Joes Van, Mt Maunganui College
Smokefree Award For Women's Musicianship: Georgia Lines, Bethlehem College
People's Choice voted by text: Zuhana, Katikati College
Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and the solo/duos that include musical gear to a total value of $13,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR.