Leadership hosted the annual Battle of the Bands on the Green, drawing hundreds of students to watch six student bands perform a range of genres on Friday night. A food truck served burgers and fries on the side as the crowd gathered on picnic blankets in front of the stage.
Marmona opened the night with a set that included songs from the ’70s, like the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” drawing cheers from the audience. Beef continued the ’70s theme with Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” Junior Calvin Blanford led the band with commanding vocals and a theatrical stage presence, leaning into the mic during choruses and dancing on stage.
Manufactured Destruction then took to the stage, with senior Gustav Singel on lead vocals and guitar. Junior James Jun backed Singel up on bass, while senior Gaelen Booth accompanied him on the guitar. Highlights from the set included Paramore’s “Ain’t it Fun,” as well as “Drops of Jupiter” by Train. “I was really, really nervous going into the first song, but then by the end of the second, I was really feeling it,” Singel said.
The Cabinet followed Manufactured Destruction, also playing a cover of “Ain’t it Fun” with elaborate harmonies. The Cabinet featured freshman Annabel Blanford on keys, junior Drea Valencia and sophomore Brianna Bedolla on vocals, sophomore Jaime Parada on bass, and senior Jackson Wright on guitar. They then played “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse, drawing cheers from the audience.
Guac, the fifth band of the night, was led by senior Kealy Bryman on vocals. The group performed Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” which featured a saxophone solo from senior Dane Hansen. The group also performed an original bossa nova song by Bryman called “How to Hold Your Hand.” For the final song of the set, Bryman encouraged the crowd to stand up and dance along to “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars.
Goat Rodeo closed out the night and ultimately won the competition. Led by C. Blanford on vocals, the band featured guitar solos from juniors Evan Chopra and Matthew Teeple and bassist freshman Henrique Carvalho. “Honestly, I just love the energy. I think there were a lot of good bands, and I think it was better than last year. It’s great to see everyone out here having fun,” Chopra said.
Leadership teacher Michael Amoroso echoed that sentiment in his closing remarks. “This was the best Battle of the Bands I can remember since 2013,” he told the crowd.
The night’s judging panel—English teacher Lisa Otsuka, math teacher Kristen Bryan, and physics teacher Joseph Vanderway—first narrowed the field down to two bands: Goat Rodeo and Guac. In a split decision, they eventually favored Goat Rodeo, meaning the band will have its name engraved one a Battle of the Bands plaque.
Goat Rodeo returned on stage to play Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” as their celebratory encore.
Beyond the music, the event drew students looking to spend time with friends before the school year wraps up. “I came here to see some of my friends perform and just get to hang out with all of the M-A students before I graduate,” senior Paige McGaraghan said.
Sophomore Josie Krebs came out in support. “I have a bunch of friends who are playing,” she said. Krebs plans on returning next year to continue supporting her friends.
Math and computer science teacher Tomiko Fronk, who enjoys attending the event every year, said it serves as a release after a stressful stretch of the school year. “I love this event. I think it’s one of my favorites that we host in the year, just like a celebration of being done with finals and APs. And for a lot of seniors, I think it’s a really good way to start celebrating the end of their high school career,” Fronk said. “I also really like to see my students outside of the classroom. I think it’s really fun to see everybody in a more chill environment.”
*Alessandra Hartwig is a journalist for the M-A Chronicle.
