Colgate University students braved the cold to attend the Battle of the Bands, hosted at the Hall of Presidents on Saturday, Jan. 24. 

As the doors opened, a crowd formed, brewing with excitement. Some students came to support their friends, having attended countless concerts prior to the show, while others had never heard the bands perform. Attendees and band members were united in their enthusiasm for a fun night of music and a healthy dose of competition.

Light displays painted the stage in colorful hues of red and blue, and strobe lights made for a dazzling show. After much anticipation, the emcee introduced the lineup for the evening: Moose, Psycho Rodney, The Proof and Julius. 

After taking the stage to thunderous applause, Moose had the whole crowd cheering and singing along to every note, performing fan-favorites like “Creep” with electrifying vocals from lead singer senior Andrew Kang. 

Next, Psycho Rodney enamored the audience with the song “Freaks,” getting the crowd to scream-sing and nod their heads along. The band then transitioned into an original song, ending with a slow breakdown, highlighting their artistry and rock sound. 

The Proof’s folk-rock set consisted of three original songs and even the use of a harmonica, combining genres to create a sound distinctly their own. Sophomore Jack Shannon, one of the band’s vocalists, shared the recent release of his debut album “Cut it Clean.” The band’s tight-knit energy emanated from the stage and the bond between members was clear. 

Sophomore Molly Opalsky, bass guitarist for The Proof, spoke the experience she has had being part of a student band.

“Being in a band makes me a lot more confident. I think being up in front of people on a stage was really hard for me before college,” Opalsky said. “Just being with people that I love and appreciate and admire, having those people on stage with me, I think makes me feel more confident.”

The night ended with a performance from Julius, a rock band that incorporated some acoustic elements. An electric drum solo invigorated the crowd, and different vocalists for various songs allowed the audience to hear a variety of voices.

While the barrier between stage and audience may seem large, meeting other musicians may be less daunting and difficult than expected. 

“A lot of us are [involved with the] radio, and we get really close by sharing music and being interested in the same bands. I think that anyone interested in being in a band should go to jam night or talk to anyone in radio. There’s so many people that are really into music and want to play with people,” Opalsky said.

Opalsky joined The Proof as bassist after being asked by Shannon, whom she knew from climbing. The rest of the band formed at a jam night event hosted by the Colgate Creative Arts Society.

Colgate’s music and arts scene may seem small, but it is a space that builds strong community, which was apparent in the audience as friends discussed performances and rocked along to the music.  

Students like juniors Christina Harrah and Tori Broadnax decided to go to the event after seeing the poster, having no previous exposure to the student bands playing that evening. 

“[The scene is] pretty unknown, but I think if you go to the right events you’ll be able to meet a lot of other people that are like-minded, so it’s a pretty decent community,” Harrah said. 

Broadnax echoed the same sentiment of community among those who love music.

“I think it’s close-knit and I think it’s cool and I think it’s underground,” Broadnax said. 

The night ended with voting for the coveted prize: an opportunity for one band to perform at Springfest. After some technical difficulties, audience members voted for their favorite band through a Google Form. With some drum rolls setting the scene, the winner was pronounced to be Julius. 

While the competition and voting added a layer of intrigue to the event, the night was mainly a showcase and celebration of the incredible artistry at Colgate, in which students came together and combined their talents. 

“Music is an awesome way to meet people, and I think I’ve met some of my best friends through going to these things and being in a band,” Opalsky said. “I think that I’m so lucky to work with everyone in my band.”