UP student band F*ck Yeah!! MANatee will be performing tomorrow night for a shot at bragging rights and cool music swag. From left to right (Will Lyons | The Beacon)
By Will Lyons, Staff Writer -- lyons14@up.edu
Things were getting a little out of hand as sophomore George Brockett and the guys from Focus Motel finished their first house show. Jeremy Ward was wailing away on the bass and Brockett, seized by the love exuding from the audience, thrust his keyboard and mic aside and plunged into the crowd to surf on the hands of fans.
What Brockett didn't take into account was the basement's low ceiling.
"I got some pretty serious scrapes from the textured ceiling that night," Brockett said.
Brockett can give the stage dive another chance at tomorrow's second annual Battle of the Bands. His band, Focus Motel, and nine other UP groups will raise money for Holy Cross Charities as well as compete for some sweet gig gear in St. Mary's Student Lounge at 7 p.m.
Tyson and Haggerty Halls' resident assistants are organizing the event for the second year in a row after it was met with great success in The Anchor last year.
Moving to St. Mary's means more bands can perform and therefore more money can be raised, according to senior RA Sean Kendrick.
"The new event location will allow more people to be able to come and rock out in a bigger space," Kendrick said. "Hopefully this will mean more donations to Holy Cross."
The winner will be determined by the amount of money the audience donates in the name of each individual band. The top three bands will win Guitar Center gift cards.
"Being able to see the community's bands while raising money for charity is going to be a blast," Kendrick said. "I love going to shows and trying to create music."
For some bands that have been together for a while this year's Battle of the Bands will be a chance for them to play in a familiar space. Others will be performing live for the first time.
Focus Motel has performed at a variety of Portland venues and has a full plate of upcoming shows at the Ellis Street Social Club, Plan B and the Ash Street Saloon.
"Some of our songs go for dance rock while others approach punk," Brockett said. "We have a lot of pulls we gravitate towards."
For other groups, Battle of the Bands will introduce them to the stage.
Lead vocalist for the band Resyn, freshman Amanda Schenberger will play for the first time in front of a large audience.
"I've always wanted to be in a band," Schenberger said. "When Nate, our guitarist, brought his guitar to Spanish class for ‘monstrar y contrar' (show and tell) we decided to jam together."
Schenberger is inspired by artists that span the history of rock n' roll, from Janis Joplin to Sara Bareilles.
"We'd love to develop our rock and bluesy sound," Schenberger said. "I'd also like to work on writing our own music."
The James Lange Theory, another group performing Friday, works the singer/songwriter vibe.
"Someone once described us as music you listen to whenever you hold someone's hand," sophomore and lead singer James Lange said. "We've got some new songs ready for Friday."
Villa Maria Hall's a first floor is the birthplace of two of the groups performing in the Battle of the Bands. The James Lange Theory and F*ck Yeah!! MANatee both developed under the gaze of the former 1A RA Kendrick.
"Sean was incredibly encouraging when we started to make music," Lange said.
F*ck Yeah!! MANatee, a three-member rap group (featuring James Lange) will perform for the first time at Friday's Battle of the Bands.
Rapper Stan Peck will be laying down some rhymes.
"We also rap about the issues and real life," Peck, a sophomore, said.
Peck enjoys asserting the prowess of his fledgling group.
"We're kind of a big deal," Peck said. "We don't rap, we are the rap."
Fellow rapper and sophomore Theo Clapp knows the group is meant for big things.
"The world tour will definitely be coming soon," Clapp said. "First, I think we're going to work on our full album though."
According to Lange, combining a chance to give to charity and for bands to perform will bring UP's community of musicians together.
"It's all for fun and charity," Lange said. "I'm really looking forward to watching and being a part of Battle of the Bands."
Battle of the Bands Friday, Feb. 24 7-10 p.m. in St. Mary's Featuring:
Kelson Lee
Resyn
The Harm
Zach Steinkamp
F*ck Yeah!! MANatee
Sam Wegman
James Lange Theory
Tenstrike
Nate Harris
Focus Motel
The James Lange Theory will be showcasing their new songs at the concert. From left to right (Will Lyons | The Beacon)
