Under scintillating lights, with instruments blaring on an expertly built stage, Battle of the Bands began in the soon-to-be-packed McNeil Room, courtesy of the hard workers of the Union Programing and Activities Committee Concerts, Union Show Techs, Ground Zero Basement, and the Rensselaer Music Association. Six bands, from genres ranging from Japanese City Pop to metal, were to cross swords over who could rock the heart of the Union the hardest.
The night began with Entropy, a staple of the show in years prior, playing their final concert at RPI. The lights pulsed to the roaring surf guitar riffs and booming bass, while behind the musicians the stage pulsed red and blue. A crowd that started the set at the back of the room soon made their way up to the brink of the stage and packed the floor. Entropy set the tone for the rest of the concert, being one of a myriad of punk/alternative rock bands that would grace the stage that night, and showing out for a final concert that netted them a third-place prize overall.
Next came UTA, Battle of the Band’s first-ever J-pop act. Just like the impressive light show, UTA played a deliciously bright and vibrant set with a myriad of tunes from famous Japanese pop singers and anime. By the end of their act, almost the entire crowd was moving with the music under the effervescent glow of flashing lights, with some by the end singing along to their favorite tunes. Although UTA was not able to crack the top three, they added a unique energy that captivated the crowd and added some much-needed diversity to the concert.
The next band up was Incoherent State. Pulling from a mix of pop, grunge, and progressive rock, they added an intensity that was previously vacant. The music swelled and the guitar was imbued with the slick, piercing tone of Tom Morello.“Bulls on Parade” gave rise to the first of what would be many mosh pits that night. To send it off, they played a rendition of “I Appear Missing” by Queens of the Stone Age, ending on a quiet vocal solo. Although they were absent from the top three, Incoherent State amped up the energy of the crowd that led perfectly into the next act.
Subhuman was next up. Opening their hard-hitting set with the first of many blistering tunes that got the audience jumping immediately. The impenetrable wall of sound, vacillating between frenetic riffs and crunchy breakdowns, filled the Union Hall completely; earplugs recommended. The crowd matched their energy, within minutes creating one of many mosh pits. During an interlude, the crowd was split for a wall of death, and after the pit was completely cleared, lead guitarist Christian Serino and vocalist Richard Chunilal showed off their hardcore style of moshing. They finished their set with a cover of “Raining Blood” that was sharp, biting, and brutal: a perfect way to end the set of a band whose talent and raw power brought a spark to the crowd that remained unmatched through the rest of the night. Although they fell short of cracking the top three, Subhuman played a set equal parts intense and invigorating. With the brunt of their work now being focused on original songs, it’s hard for one not to be excited for the future of the band.
Next up was the winner of the whole ordeal, Pseudosky. Drawing from a mix of original work and modern classics, Psedosky provided a seamless shift form the raw power of Subhuman, lightened the mood while still keeping the crowd going two hours in. Taking full advantage of RMA’s sound rig and dazzling light show, Pseudosky perfectly mixed their ethereal vocal harmonies with solid instrumental hooks to create a set that captured the hearts of the audience as well as the judges. Their rendition of Zedd’s “Clarity” proved to be a highlight from the night, drawing a venue-wide singalong from the crowd.
The sixth and final band was Wishbone. Behind the fast hands and glowing tone of their lead guitarist, they handled the job of closer with poise and infectious confidence. They played a beautiful set from a wide variety of artists and original pieces, keeping the crowd going until the final minutes of their performance. Their set culminated in a high octane original piece, “Neverland”, which featured an awe-inspiring guitar solo that gave way to a drum solo to cap off their act. As the final chord was struck the crowd was roaring: an excellent end to the night.
Within minutes of ending, the results were in. For the bands, the placement was Pseudosky in first, Wishbone taking second, and Entropy in third. For lighting, the placement was Incoherent State, Wishbone, and Entropy tying with UTA. While the vote added some excitement to the event, any of the six bands deserved their shot at first prize. Ultimately it was a collaboration between talented groups, an ode to the wealth of artistic talent present within RPI, and it gave those who came a night to be remembered.
