Campus bands take to stage for battle

With bluegrass, ska, a Stevie Wonder cover and Senegalese lyrics, it's fair to say that the Battle of the Bands final at UVM on Jan. 21 was something to see. 

Student bands One Over Zero, Llama Tsunami, Sloe Loris, Yo Tengo Soy and The Walk were chosen out of 12 bands to compete for the coveted Springfest opening act slot. 

"All the bands that entered were really great. I wish all of them could have been in the finals," said Alex McVarnish, University Program Board Music Committee member.

The finalists, competing to be the opening act for Springfest,  performed in the Grand Maple Ballroom on the fourth floor of the Davis Center. 

The room was set up with a large stage at the back and a multicolored light show that highlighted the students and family members in the audience.

Each band played three to five songs, not all of which were originals. All five bands had their own distinct sound. 

One Over Zero, a reggae/hip-hop/funk infusion band, began the night with a Beasty Boy-esque sound.

Graduate student Modou Ndione sang in French and Senegalese while vocalist Matt Murphy rapped. The band's drummer, sophomore Jake Mayers, said he found the band on Craigslist. 

Llama Tsunami lead singer Nick Perry encouraged the crowd to get up and dance to their ska/rock sound. With two trumpets, a trombone and a sax, the band brought new light to songs like "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. 

"With a ska band you never really know – people either really love it or really hate it," guitarist Ben Perry said.

"There's never anybody who's like, ‘yeah I guess they're OK," Perry said.

Sloe Loris, a jam rock band, had no vocal component, but did not lack in musical talent or the ability to get the crowd hyped up.

"They're really fun to dance to," junior Emily Cseh said. "Their type of jam music is really fun to see live."

Yo Tengo Soy — formerly known as Dirty Dave — incorporated a great keyboard sound that made all the difference because, like Sloe Loris, the band did not have a vocalist.

The Walk was the last to play. Their playlist's variety was the most evident – they performed a Stevie Wonder cover followed by a ballad written by the lead fretboard player and vocalist Antonio Miravete.

The event was put on by the University Program Board, who planned, supervised and funded the entire night. 

"We just kind of wanted to put something on that would give bands that have UVM students a platform to showcase what they've got," McVarnish said. 

Instead of having the students decide the winner — as was the case prior to the finals — there was a panel of elected judges. 

According to Stabile, everyone has their own method for deciding who their favorite is. 

The crowd's reception of the bands was taken into account as well. "

They're going to be performing at Springfest, so you want someone that's going to be great at that event," Stabile said. "So far it's a really tough call," 

McVarnish announced that there was a tie, but that the preferred Battle of the Bands winner, Sloe Loris, will be opening Springfest this May.