Bands Duke it Out
Eight bands from Pocatello, Provo and Logan competed for first place prize of $250 Friday night as they performed for the Native American Student Council’s (NASC) Battle of the Bands, at Utah State University.
The bands genre ranged from rock and punk to ska and Christian rock. All the bands were judged on a point system based on content, time, originality, musical ability and crowd response.
Local ska band Swill took first place in the competition.
Carly Ebben, an undeclared junior, said she enjoyed Swill’s performance and is a fan and friend of theirs.
“I’ve been to a lot of their shows and I’m glad to see them win,” she said. “I even got more into their show this time.”
Ben Hibshman, who performs keyboards, trumpet and backup vocals for Swill, said they were surprised to win the show but happy to play because their performance at USU attracted a different crowd than usual.
“Seeing new faces and a different crowd is fun because you see how they react,” Hibshman said.
The band he thought was going to win was Still Famous, because “they knew how to work the crowd.”
With a song mixing Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby,” punk band Still Famous took second place and an award of $150.
Still Famous member Nick Miller said the crowd was fun for their show.
“I’m Native American too,” he said while signing a CD for a fan. “This was an awesome thing to do and everyone was freaking awesome.”
Performing for only their fourth time, Subliminal Conversion took third place and won $100.
Suzy Rashid, lead vocals and acoustic/electric guitar for Subliminal Conversion, said she’s glad they got to perform their Christian rock music in the battle.
“I was really nervous before the show,” she said. “But we did all right; we’ve only been together for a few months so it was a great opportunity to play here.”
Rashid said their music is more focused on her experience being a Christian and she is glad the crowd was getting into their performance.
NASC president Conan John said the purpose of the event was to bring USU students together and prove that NASC has the skills to put on a good show.
“Everything went fantastic,” he said. “All the bands were great to work with and they all brought energy to the crowd.”
The event was also meant as a fundraiser for the USU Echoing Traditional Ways Pow Wow, which the NASC sponsors each spring. They wanted to include all students in the fundraiser and let them know USU has a Native American Student Council that is “alive and active,” John said.
When John asked the crowd if they would like to see NASC do this event again next year, the crowd cheered.
“Maybe we will do it again,” he said. “It seems like everyone had a good time and would like to see it happen in the future.
David Kinsey, vocals for local band Asher Habit, said he was excited his band was able to perform for NASC.
“I’m into that kind of stuff,” he said. “I love the Native American culture and I thought [NASC] did a great job putting it together.
The band’s drummer, Stoker White, agreed and said the band put on one of their better shows.
“It was one of our tightest yet,” he said. “There were a lot of great bands here, we just brought our grunge style here and did our best.
White said he enjoys music that is different and fun, which is why he enjoyed Swill. Because all the bands have great talent, it was fun to watch them perform and contribute to the battle, he said.
The Abilene Paradox band member Josh Dunn said USU knows how to put on a great show.
“The crowd was really awesome,” he said. “This was one of the best shows we’ve done and for a university venue. The sound was amazing.
The Abilene Paradox brought fans from different parts of Utah with at least one fan from USU – Bret Hanson.
Hanson, a senior majoring in art, said it was one of the best shows ever.
“This was my first time seeing them live,” he said. “I’ve heard their CD and my friend always talked about them and I just think they are amazing.
He said the crowd was getting into the music and realizing how great of a band they are with their stage presence and unique sound.
“They are really – I don’t want to say in sync because that’s a band – so I’ll say they were tight.”
After the battle, the band prepared for their Saturday performance at the X96 Big Ass Show.
John said even though there was only one winner, “all bands sounded amazing and did a good job.”
-srkrebs@cc.usu.edu