Rockin’ USU
The Native American Student Council (NASC) is ready to rock Utah State University’s campus on Friday, as they sponsor Battle of the Bands in the Taggart Student Center from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
NASC president Conan John said the purpose of the event is to bring USU students together and prove that NASC has the skills to put on a good show.
Eight bands from Logan, Provo and Pocatello will be competing in the event.
Karson Howard, vocals and guitar player from the participating band, Neujence, said they are excited to compete even if they don’t win anything. They jumped at the chance to play when John invited them.
“I love to perform live,” Howard said. “Any chance I get I’ll play and I can’t wait to watch the other bands perform.”
The Idaho State University student said they play in Pocatello a lot, and are excited to bring their “alternative” music to USU. Howard said his favorite band is Weezer, but he doesn’t want to compare Neujence to any other band.
The NASC wanted to involve USU students and have a social activity instead of a Native American event as they gear up for their Pow Wow in the spring, John said.
John hopes the event will help inform students about the role of the NASC on campus.
For the competition, bands will be judged on content, time, orginality, musical ability and crowd response and will be based on a point system. The top three bands win a cash prize: $250 for first place, $150 for second and $100 for third place.
“This is a great way to get our club out and about here on campus,” John said. “I’m sure there are many students that don’t know that the NASC exists on campus.”
Susan Welsh, vice president of NASC, said the event is going to “rock the campus.”
“There will be a lot of punk rock alternative,” she said. “Everyone should bring a friend and support local bands.
John said because of their success in the past, they know NASC has the potential to put on great events.
“It’s time for a little break,” he said. “We just want to have a great turn out and give USU students some fun and time to listen to some great music and get some free time from all the studying we have done up to now.”
The battle is a fundraiser for the USU Echoing Traditional Ways Pow Wow, which the NASC sponsors each spring.
Admission is $3 at the door.
-srkrebs@cc.usu.edu