Music lovers and tired tailgaters lounged under oak trees and enjoyed rock tunes after the football game as four local bands vied for the top spot Saturday in the Battle of the Bands in Free Speech Plaza.
New Orleans-based band Hazy Ray claimed first place and a slot at the Groovin’ on the Grounds spring concert on March 24 after judges scored each competitor.
“It feels incredible,” said P. Michael Hayes, Hazy Ray trombonist and music education senior. “We put in a lot of work in the last couple months.”
Hazy Ray graced listeners with a smooth, jazzy, alternative sound, incorporating a trombone and cello into each of its songs.
The Broken Rubber Band, from Baton Rouge, kicked off the show with songs ranging from blues and jazz to rock ‘n’ roll.
With three of its members clad in variations of suits and ties, the band got a few of the concertgoers dancing with its song “Waltz.”
Framing the Red, a band from Natchez, Miss., livened the mood as it cranked out sounds of high-energy rock.
People clapped and cheered while one young boy danced in the middle of the plaza.
Familiarity set in when audience members joined in to sing a rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.”
A crowd of more than 100 accumulated for the event, with many gathering near the stage and others simply sitting in the grass with their dogs.
Baton Rouge group Pushing Pandas ended the performance as the sun began to set, playing a few rock songs with funk, pop and reggae influences.
Electrical engineering junior Matthew Loupe said he wanted to see the bands perform and would like to play in next year’s Battle of the Bands.
“[It was] pretty decent. Better than I thought it was going to be,” said Antonio Smith, mechanical engineering freshman, who happened to stumble upon the event as he was walking around campus.
Students on Target, a part of Student Government, hosted the event that has been taking place at the University since the ’90s.
“Our motto is ‘music with a mission,'” said Khristen Jones, SOT director and accounting senior.
She said there was an increase in talent and a great audience turnout at this year’s contest.
“I think all of the bands have been really, really good,” said Christina Tran, SOT member and microbiology junior.
SOT works to promote a healthy lifestyle and delivered wellness messages throughout the event.
Each band submitted an application and CDs, and SOT members chose the four bands that competed Saturday.
 
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Contact Juliann Allen at [email protected]