JORDAN BUDD
Staff Writer
The Music Industry Club (MIC) is hosting Battle of the New Bands once again. After missing last year due to COVID-19, the student-run organization is excited to continue the long-running event.
This year’s competition started on Thursday, Sept. 23, when MIC held a mixer for the event. Potential performers and managers excitedly gathered in S204ABC in the Williams Center for a presentation from the MIC executive board, led by club president, Emily Rasulo.
Rasulo explained the many facets of the event, such as the scoring systems for auditions, the managers’ duties, crowd voting, the judging panel during the finals and the potential prizes for managers and artists. Past judges of the finals include Kathleen Fisher (manager winner), Jonah Rosel (band winner) and one of Fredonia’s music industry professors, Dr. Stuart Shapiro.
The e-board decided to bring in 2019 participants, Beach Tower, their manager Connor Bessey-Nolan, and Tsunami Surprise’s Cameron Bunch. These past competitors held a Q&A session that was both informative and comforting for the newcomers.
They made it clear that although it is a competition, once your band is assembled, you’ve already won. Beach Tower and the lone Tsunami Tsurprise member expressed that even though they lost the competition, their engagement with the event not only inspired them to start a band, but also thrust them into the local scene. After the band, Marmalade Joe, was announced the 2019 winner, the two “losing” bands quickly got booked for their first performance at the North Pole Strip Club, “probably the most legendary house venue in Western NY.”
After the Q&A session was complete, the mixing started to happen. Potential band members and managers milled about the room, while connections strengthened within the group of participants and groups were formed.
Registration forms for managers and their respective bands were due Oct. 14. Three bands and one solo artist signed up for the event. Auditions were held Oct. 29, which decided the three finalists who will perform on Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Williams Center. In the audition, each band or artist played two original songs and one cover.
As we eagerly await each act’s first live performance on Dec. 3, be sure to follow the participants on Instagram and the Music Industry Club (@micfredonia) to stay tuned on these up-and-comers in the Fredonia scene.
Here is a definitive guide to your Battle of the New Bands 2021 Finalists:
(performing in this order)
Meadow Viscuso
Members: Solo artist under her real name
Manager: Jazmine Torres
Genre: Pop and R&B
Audition Cover: “High” by Miley Cyrus
Instagram: @meadowviscusomusic
Fun Facts:
-Viscuso is a freshman from Buffalo, New York who has a passionate drive to be in the entertainment industry in the near future.
-Since childhood, her idol has been Ariana Grande.
-Her bio on Instagram is adorned with an illustrative message reading, “My music’s purpose is to uplift others on a spiritual level with a soulful and soothing sound, I hope it gives people a sense of belonging and comfort.”
-The third song during her audition was acapella.
Edelwood Creek
Members: Hunter Lares, Michael Tumbaco, Mike Perry, Dennis McAndrew and Alex Salmeron
Manager: Jaina Berardi
Genre: Metal, post-hardcore
Social media: @edelwood_creek
Audition Cover: “The Downfall of Us All” by A Day to Remember
Fun Facts:
-The group’s name is pronounced AY-delwood, not EE-delwood Creek.
-Their name originates from the Cartoon Network animated miniseries, “Over the Garden Wall.” Their lead singer, Lares, expressed his enjoyment of the Edelwood trees in the show’s fictional universe and how they represent “the loss of hope for some and the only source of hope for another.” Creek was tacked on because Lares had a conversation with a potential bandmate about the Edelwood trees and their accompanying message of duality at the infamous Canadaway Creek across from Fredonia’s campus.
-Every member of the band has been playing since they were in middle school or younger.
The Science Behind It
Members: Lucas Cottet, Jacob King, David Moran and Jonathan Zareski
Manager: Jackson Moeller
Genre: Indie rock
Instagram: @the_science_behind_it_band
Audition Cover: “Panic Switch” by Silversun Pickups. Also outside of their audition the band has covered “Heretic Pride” by The Mountain Goats and “Heavy Metal Drummer” by Wilco for their Instagram reels.
Fun Facts:
-All four members have recently performed at The North Pole Strip Club this semester. On Oct. 22, Cottet played trumpet with Beach Tower, which includes the dual band member Zareski, while later in the night, Moran provided a steady beat for the band, Tooth. Most recently, Jacob King and the Wired Band performed on Nov. 5.
-This science themed indie rock band can be found on almost every social media platform you could think of. Check out the expansive Linktr.ee in their Instagram bio.
-All of the performing members are Sound Recording Technology majors except King, who is an English major and every member including their manager, Moeller, are juniors.