The Circle

   WMAR’s first annual battle of the bands was a passionate display of skill and exuberance.

   Sophomore Andrew Cleary, WMAR Secretary and organizer of the event, attributed the success to the consistent dexterity displayed by the five bands that competed.

   “The talent we had on stage was phenomenal,” Cleary said. “It was almost unfair to rank the bands because they were all so talented.”

   The idea was thrown around in November, and planning got underway in mid-December. A 12-person board was assembled to select the five competitors from a pool of 16 candidates. The board chose the participants after listening to demos of each band. The show’s organizers networked various sources in order to find the 16 applicants.

  WMAR and MCTV joined forces with Poughkeepsie’s 96.9 WRRV, whose DJs Simon and Shmonty hosted the event at the Nelly Golleti Theater on Saturday, February 16, at 7 p.m. The bands that competed were Mike Horn and the Method, Paging Grace, The Downrights, Belikos, and Some Call me the Poet.

   “Every band that performed is capable of being a headliner,” Cleary noted, “and they played back to back.”

   Although they sold more than 100 tickets, they hope to attract a larger audience in years to come.

   “I wished more people showed up,” said sophomore Pat Ahern, DJ for WMAR, who also helped organize the event. “We need to start advertising earlier and promote more effectively.”

   He said they need to promote the show so that it will be “fresh in people’s minds, but not too far ahead.” 

   However, Ahern acknowledged that it was an enjoyable experience overall.   

   “All the bands had a great time,” he said. “The people had a good time.”

   Cleary also praised the event, saying, “I don’t know what to expect for next year, I just think it will get better and better in the years come.”

   Belikos, self-described as “elephants on acid stampeding off a cliff at one hundred miles an hour while reading poetry,” was chosen as the winner by both the judges’ panel and the audience. The group earned the opportunity to open for a national band at the Chance Theater, received 30 percent of ticket sales, and earned a ski trip package.

   The Downrights, who described their sound as “mad steezy,” came in second place. Paging Grace, the third place finishers, will have one of their songs, “Leave,” featured on the upcoming season of the Hills on MTV.

   “The bands thought the sound was terrific, and they really appreciated our hospitality,” Ahern said.

   The bands are going to receive audio recordings of the show, as well as video of the performance from MCTV.

   “It was fantastic,” Cleary said. “It was worth everything, all the work that the people put into it… it was perfect.”

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