ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR – JOSE GUERRERO
ORIGINALLY PRINTED ON APRIL 6, 2023
Homecoming Week at St. Mary’s University is always a time for friendly competitions, challenges, and overall fun activities and festivities to ring in another year of Fiesta celebrations and Oyster Bake preparations for the campus. Throughout the week of March 27 through April 1, St. Mary’s invited organizations and students around campus to enjoy activities that express pride for the campus collective through art, display booths, sporting events, and of course, music. Battle of the Bands is a campus-wide event sponsored by the University Programming Council (UPC) where student bands and music groups perform live on stage for a panel of judges and a live audience. According to UPC, they had over 250 student attendees signed in for the Battle of the Bands, not including the number of friends and family members of the band members that came to support them.
Upon arrival, attendees experienced the clever set-up of the event to match the otherworldly theme for this year’s Homecoming, “Out of this World.” Taking inspiration from popular science-fiction franchises and depictions of the vastness of space, participants guided themselves through a dark tunnel dotted with twinkling lights and neon decorations that correctly introduced the feeling of entering a faraway galaxy. Several bands and performers showcased their talents on stage, all the artists sharing a background and connection to St. Mary’s in some way, expressing their interest in music along with their student experiences.
Each band bought their unique take on the “Out of this World” theme and selected songs and instrumentals that git within the different aesthetics and influences they channeled. Susy Rivera is a junior art education major with a minor in music and a member of one of the participating bands, Far Away. She shared her experience performing for the first time with Far Away as a collective group. “We wanted a little bit of love as the theme,” Rivera stated about her group’s inspiration for the songs they chose to perform. “This was a fun experience, and I hope to do this again.” One of the songs Far Away performed was “Yellow” by Coldplay. They wanted to include songs that evoked feelings of love and and the visuals of the stars and space within the lyrics. “I was very nervous about it, but I have really talented bandmates,” Rivera said about her first time performing at the Battle of the Bands. The event allowed student musicians and artists on campus to get to know others who share their interests in performing and music, even if their majors do not precisely align with studying music and performance art. Rivera was one of the many students who experience the continuing tradition of the Battle of the Bands during Homecoming for the first time. A light-up dance floor in front of the stage allowed participants to dance and mingle, creating a shared experience of enjoyment and the opportunity to share their talents and skills.
“I enjoyed it,” stated freshman digital marketing major Sydney Forde-Richins. “It was very high-energy. It felt like everyone could be themselves without any judgement.” Many participants, especially students, were unsure on what to expect from this year’s Battle of the Bands. Still, those returning and those. experiencing the event for the first time were amazed at the positive energy and encouragement offered by the attendees coming out to have a good time Truly, there was a bit of something for everyone. If one needed a break from the dance floor, UPC provided snacks, drinks, and spaces with standing tables near the back of the room, away from the bigger crowds near the stage. Other contests such as a raffle prize for Oyster Bake tickets, invited participants to stick around to see more of the performers and a chance to win a prize.
The bands and musicians at Battle of the Bands were The Rumor Mill, Rose City Dancers, Far Away, Split TV, and Gelina and the Diamondbacks. Some took inspiration for the Homecoming theme, while others performed songs best suited their group aesthetics. The genres included but were not limited to rock, pop, indie, cumbia, and dance music, ensuring that everyone could be familiar with a few songs at the very least. The ability to dabble in different music genres and explore creative avenues of expression in this environment allowed these student musicians to find confidence in themselves and their ability to perform in front of a crowd. Gelina Casiano, senior music performance and communications double major, as well as Gelina and the Diamondbacks’ dual vocalist and lead guitarist, reflected on her second experience performing at Battle of the Bands. “Last time, we were the alternates that came up,” Cassiano stated. “We just had to pull it together quickly. This time around we put a lot more effort into it, having rehearsals. All of us were there, always on time and bringing our gear and a ‘can-do attitude.” Cassiano shared that with all the practice her group put in, shel felt it paid off when it came to performing. “We had a fun time on stage, and I think the audience felt that too.” With the team effort put into practicing and performing, the final results from the judges ended the night. Second place and performer at RattlerFest went to The Rumor Mill. First place and one of the student band performers for the official Fiesta Oyster Bake went to Gelina and the Diamondbacks. All of the efforts of the student performers showed on stage for the audience to witness firsthand. “I really enjoyed coming to Battle of the Bands for the first time with all my friends, “ stated Linda Masabo, junior electrical engineering major. “ I can’t wait for the one next year.”