At this year's Battle of the Bands, $500 was at stake as five bands, each with different sounds and styles, battled it out in a crowded Student Union Theater Wednesday night.
Mayday, a band from Buffalo, claimed the first prize at the end of the night after playing a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird."
"It's all going back into the band, we are going to use the money for recording," said Mike Wolcott, a sophomore business major and the band's lead singer.
Mayday brought more than good music - Wolcott got down on his back during the band's performance and spun around 360 degrees as he played his guitar.
"Mayday's cover of 'Free Bird' rocked. The music sounded good and I was really impressed with all the musical talent of all the groups here tonight," said Lauren Swenson, a sophomore biomedical sciences major.
Rhyson Hall and The Heist claimed the second place, while Innocent Bystanders placed third.
The Broadcast opened the show with tremendous energy, preparing fans in the audience and getting applause. Their performance included a song "Move Like Water" with an acoustic guitar.
Last year's third-place winners For What It's Worth made their second appearance at this year's event. The band came back with brand new songs, new choreographed guitar dance moves, and a drive for their second win in the competition.
"Everyone is willing to put in their part in this group. We really lucked out getting the right group of guys together for our band," the members of For What It's Worth said.
When the band performed "Alas Morning," the lead singer's voice filled the theater. Guitarists Matt Slomowicz and Mike Lagrasso joined bassist Brad Gottorff to perform an array of swinging guitar tricks that made the audience cheer and applaud. Drummer Joe Bartolucci, a sophomore fine arts major and the only member of For What It's Worth who attends UB, jointly screamed with Gottorff during their performance.
Innocent Bystanders was the largest band playing that night. The band's mix of instruments included guitar, bass, drums, tambourine, and a saxaphone. Innocent Bystanders performed many songs that sounded like a mix of funk, pop, and punk music. According to band members, they're all Buffalo natives who met in high school when the band took form.
"We have been together for five years and playing in front of the student body is a highlight. We are always happy to play for our peers," said Chris Nanula, a junior business major and bassist for the group.
Innocent Bystanders treated audience members to a unique end when lead singer Kevin Samson, a junior media studies major, sang and played the piano simultaneously after jumping on it.
"For What It's Worth and Innocent Bystanders were my favorite groups tonight," said Erin Bernstein, a sophomore philosophy major. "The music tonight was different, you have bands like For What It's Worth and then Innocent Bystanders, both rock music but completely different styles; it was a good variety."
The last act of the night might have been the most unique performers of the night. Although the Battle of the Bands is largely a rock festival, the closing act of the night was a collaboration of rock and rap music featuring Rhyson Hall and The Heist. "Rhyson Hall and The Heist were really enjoyable. Their rock rap fusion mix, made for a great sound; it was something different," said Reid Gunnersen, a junior business management major.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
