Battle of the Bands gives busy students chance to perform

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Round one of Battle of the Bands took place last night in the Rathskeller with a less than impressive head count. At the start of the show, there was an audience of about 50 people.

Three bands – K-uger, Rap Pack and Tropidelic – played and were the first of 14 bands to perform the annual event. Each band was allotted 20 minutes

Punk-inspired K-uger, whose name is taken from an episode of the television sitcom “Seinfeld,” performed first and played a mixture of original and cover songs. They opened with Alkaline Trio’s “Private Eye,” and covered Weezer’s “My Name is Jonas.”

Singer-guitarist Rick Janssen, senior electronic media production major, said K-uger formed six years ago and this was the first time the band played Battle of the Bands.

Janssen said that he and his bandmates are influenced by bands such as Lit, CKY, Weezer and Alkaline Trio.

With all of the members working and going to school full time, it’s difficult to play out all of the time, Janssen said. Although the band is already working on its third album, Janssen is hesitant to say whether he plays seriously or for recreation.

“It’s a little of both,” Janssen said. “I think we try not to take it too serious.”

Tropidelic, whose influences are 311 and Sublime, closed out the night.

Frontman Matthew Andrle, senior marketing major, said the band usually plays at the Robin Hood. The theme of the band is to “play music that takes you away from everyday life,” Andrle said.

Neither the bands or the audience seemed to take the night too seriously.

“It’s something to do for a Kent band,” Andrle said.

Janssen said that K-uger is playing a set on Thursday, and that its Battle of the Bands set was a more laid-back performance.

“This will probably be a warm up,” Janssen said.

Round two of Battle of the Bands will take place 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Rathskeller.

Contact on-campus entertainment reporter Joe Shearer at [email protected].