NAOMI LYNCH
Social Media Manager
Last Thursday, three bands took to the stage to compete for the name of best new band in Fredonia. The Multipurpose Room was packed with students eager to see which talented group would take home the title this year. In addition to winning the title, the winner would also get to open for a band at BJ’s on Dec. 2. So, who would stomp out the competition and rise to the top?
First up was 42 Eagle, who opened with a cover of Fall Out Boy’s “Take Over, the Break’s Over.” Lead singer Jake Supovitz’s voice was reminiscent of Patrick Stump as he sang into the mic.
42 Eagle is a name that most people might find familiar. Last year, the address became a viral meme through YikYak in which there was always a “party” at the address, even though residents and neighbors would deny any party taking place.
“Jake and Chris laughed about how funny and cool the name 42 Eagle would be as a band name on a way to a party at the same place. We woke up the next day and it was still a great name,” Supovitz, a freshman, said. The three-piece is comprised of three members: Supovitz, who also plays guitar, Chris Egan, the second guitarist, and Patrick, or “Pat,” Hart on trumpet.
The band’s second song, “Reconnection,” was an original piece that took on a more folksy sound then the varied sound of Fall Out Boy. The audience got to see more of Hart in action with this song, providing the rhythm.
Pop punk/alternative music was what united Supovitz and Egan together.
“[This] was both of our favorite styles and we just had a lot of fun playing it,” said Supovitz.
Before the piece, Supovitz joked around that there was “a lot of attractive people in the audience,” which drew laughter from the crowd. “That’s what makes us unique. We’re just ourselves up there,” Jake said. “We make jokes, make fun of ourselves, and make sure that everyone in the crowd is having a good time.”
The sound took on a more solemn sound as the band continued to their next original, a love song called “Better Half.”
“I think that’s the song he wrote about his girlfriend,” gushed junior psychology major AnnaMarie Incorvaia.
The band closed on a high note with their song “Jealousy Is My Best Policy,” a song that mirrored Fall Out Boy in title and song, and they did the men justice. The sound of Hart’s trumpet became infectious and the crowd started to dance along, even clapping along at one point. This begs the question: what do you do with a trumpet in a band? Well, you rock out, of course! All the material the men write is original, and soon they will begin their first album. “We’re introducing a full band very soon!” Supovitz tells us. “Anyone can relate to lyrics and music — after all, it’s for them.”
Second to the stage was Whisky Business, comprised of The Otherme’s Aiden Licker on guitar and New Masons drummer John Greenan. The first song the duo performed was an original called “Look Away.” The two met after their manager, Sam Quatsoe, heard Licker play at BJ’s and suggested he participate in the competition.
“Originally wanting to do the same style as the Otherme, I met with John and we decided on something brand new — as battle of the new bands is supposed to be. I guess we’re calling [our genre] alternative rock,” said Licker, a junior double major in audio/radio production and music business.
Between performances, Licker made the audience laugh when he apologized to Dr. Shapiro for missing class earlier. “We had band practice and … y’know, yeah! Sorry!” The two piece performed another original called “Handful Of Roses,” which really showed off Licker’s vocal range.
“Playing with Aiden was very easy for me,” John said after their performance. “Even though I knew of him, we didn’t know each other. Then we started making music together and everything just fell into place.”
Not only is their chemistry unique, but so is their setup: “Our goal is to make our songs sound like we have more than two people in the band while only having two people in the band,” Aiden said. “While most bands have their drummer play behind the frontman, John & I play side-by-side at the front of the stage because this project is both equally ours and we both deserve to [be] the frontman.”
The duo closed with original song “Let Me Drown,” in which Licker politely asked the crowd to “rock the eff out.” With this song, it was evident that inspiration comes from Fall Out Boy and Cage the Elephant, but to the audience, we all saw another Twenty One Pilots in the making. Both guys had silver crosses on, which Greenan noticed after the show. “Well, we’re both really Irish, and that’s what these crosses are — Celtic. So we actually just wore these by chance,” he laughed.
The audience gave Whisky Business a rousing ovation after its set. What’s next for the band? A show at Buffalo’s Mohawk Place on Jan. 2.
“It’s a show by the artists,” Licker said. “There’s no promotion company putting it on. We’re doing it all ourselves, which is really cool. It’s going to be a really good show.”
Finally, Će JJR (pronounced “Chay Jay Junior”) stormed to the stage with its original song “Leave it To Whom.”
The four-piece is comprised of Cam “Ćeo (Chay-o)” Orlando on vocals, Jabari Noel on guitar, Jake McCoy on drums and Ryan Gese on bass — hence, the JJR in the name. The three instrumentalists formed first, “and a specific sound was missing,” manager and junior music industry major Megan Stade said. After a few jam sessions, Noel messaged Orlando in search of vocalist.
“When Cam was introduced to the mix, he brought hip-hop to the table and as soon as the band got together it was definite that an alternative/hip-hop route was to be taken,” Stade said.
The crowd energy definitely spiked with Orlando spitting into the mic, with a lyrical speed that could rival Eminem’s “Rap God” and a flow like Wale. “This was my third ‘real’ show,” Orlando said after the show. “This was incredible.”
The next song took a somber song as the band performed “Dark Clouds,” which talks about the real story of Orlando losing a friend.
“Inspiration can come from a specific event — like “Dark Clouds” — or from just about anything,” Orlando, a sophomore, said. “From the sun in the sky to the drink in the cup, inspiration can be found anywhere.”
The band brought the energy back up with a cover of Kanye’s “Power,” accompanied by two backup singers. Orlando bounced up and down the stage so much, a stage hand rushed to the corner to catch his mic stand in case it fell over.
“I kinda didn’t like some of those lyrics” said freshman trumpet performance major Katrina Surdyka. “They did have the most energy though. They looked the most comfortable on the stage.”
Freshman social work major Kelsey Lombet, agreed. “Their [performance] was also a lot more energetic and more involved. He was telling people ‘oh yeah, wave your hands’ and ‘get pumped!’ she said.
The band closed with another original, called “American Hustle.” In the 30 minutes they were on stage, one could see the diversity that the band brings to the table. And that energy won them the title of Fredonia’s Best New Band. So look out for Će JJR’s BJ’s debut on Dec. 2.