Your classified guide to the 2008 OSU Battle of the Bands!

By: Diversions staff

Posted: 5/30/08

Action Panther

By Evan Connet

No strangers to the Battle, last year's third-place finishers, Action Panther, return this year to grace the stage with their signature indie-acoustic rock sound, further enhanced with an infusion of accordion, an aspect that will be more prominent this time around.

Talking with bassist Nate Nerenberg, he cites acts such as Muse, Paul Simon, The Beatles and Arcade Fire as influences on this group that has beginnings reaching back eight years. They continue today with the desire to "just keep writing good songs, or to someday wake up as a monster." Solid goals, indeed.

According to Nerenberg, last year's experience was an awesome one that cemented the group as it is now, and while three-quarters of the band is going to Europe in the fall, Action Panther is ready to go all-out in the Battle this year and perform even better than they did last year.

Blue Ember

Alex McElroy: How long has the band been playing together and how long have you been doing live shows?

Matt Warden: The drummer and I have been together since 2001. We've been Blue Ember since 2004, but have had this current group for a year and a half. We've been playing any show we could get since our formation.

AM: What is the band's biggest inspiration?

MW: Muse is a huge inspiration. Every performance of theirs is spectacular.

AM: What professional band have you been compared to?

MW: It's funny really. We have been compared anywhere from Incubus to Brand New, but mainly because we just recently chose a vocalist; so many of the comparisons were what people would expect us to sound like with vocals.

AM: Your Prediction for Battle of the Bands?

MW: Amazing bands being nothing short of excellent, professional and solid.

AM: Any tricks up your sleeve

MW: We were hoping for balloons and trinkets, but the schedule is tight; so our biggest trick is that we actually have vocals.

AM: Which band are you most excited to see at the battle?

MW: Honest to Empire has had a great year and I'm really excited to see what they do.

AM: Most importantly, who is your favorite Diversions writer?

MW: It was Craig, but right now you're up there. Fifty-fifty maybe?

AM: It's fine; go 60/40, I won't be hurt.

MW: That's sounds good; 60/40. Either way, I'm excited to read Diversions this week.

By Ruben Casas

Evan Churchill of Break As We Fall promises a surprise this Friday at Battle of the Bands. He wouldn't reveal what it is, however, so fans will have to show up and see what the band has up its sleeves.

Break As We Fall started as a side-project Churchill envisioned as an outlet for his self-described predilection for '90s pop and Michael Jackson. It soon became a full-blown outfit that now performs music derived from Jason Mraz, Gavin DeGraw and Maroon 5 influences.

Among his personal influences, Churchill lists Lauryn Hill, Jack Johnson and Ben Harper.

So anyone who wants to know what the love-child of Lauryn Hill and Adam Levine sounds like, be there Friday night when Churchill and the other members of Break As We Fall take the stage.

Chemical Warbear

Alex McElroy: How long has the band been playing together, and how long have you been doing live shows?

Gabe Norris: We have been together for about a year and a half to two years. We started the band to do live performances, so we've been playing shows since our start.

AM: What is the band's biggest inspiration?

GN: I'd have to say all music. There isn't one single thing that inspires us.

AM: Which professional band have you been compared to?

GN: We've been called a cross between Death Cab for Cutie and Minus the Bear, but we don't like to compare ourselves for fear that we may force ourselves to play like the comparisons. We're ourselves.

AM: Your prediction for Battle of the Bands?

GN: A whole lot of fun.

AM: Any tricks up your sleeve?

GN: Well, our guitarist might do something crazy, but I don't want to spoil our show.

AM: Which band are you most excited to see at the Battle?

GN: All of them. The diversity of all the bands is enough to get me excited, so I can't put my finger on one single band.

AM: Most importantly, who is your favorite Diversions writer?

GN: Well, I would have said Craig, but I'll say 50/50 split between you and him.

E_Cubed

By Ruben Casas

E_Cubed, a band that shares their drummer with In Pursuit Of - another contender in Friday's Battle of the Bands - is comprised of three engineering students at OSU that also happen to share a common Christian faith.

Their name derives from both sensibilities, and if it isn't readily apparent as to how, I encourage you to talk to Micah Brosious, front-man for the band.

Brosious describes E_Cube's sound as a rock "with a funk flare," and he's not reticent about comparing the band's sound (or owning comparisons made by the band's fans) to the Dave Matthews Band. As the band's main songwriter, he credits both DMB and Radiohead as influences.

The lack of rhythm in contemporary music, a characteristic Brosius mostly blames on "drummers that are boring," is the least exciting thing about music today. With a drummer that doubles as a bassist in another band, you can be sure that "the rhythm is gonna get you" when E_Cubed takes the stage tonight.

Honest To Empire

By Ian Grogan

Honest to Empire isn't new to the battle of the bands; they have been to the Battle before, and were a big hit last year. This year will be no different. Their influences include bands such as Tool, Sublime, Metallica and Iron Maiden, as well as bands like Sweater Club and Porcupine Tree, which drummer Charley McGowan claims everyone in the band listens to.

When asked if the band has any surprises in store for this year's Battle, McGowan got really excited.

"We have a totally new set this year," he said. "We'll only be playing two old songs; all of the rest will be new songs, including a new intro."

McGowan was also excited to tell me he'll be sporting a "Barbie-pink double mohawk" and that he hopes for "the crowd's faces to melt off" during the band's set.

Honest to Empire's first CD, "On the Horizon," will be on sale June 6 and can be pre-ordered at the show.

In Pursuit Of

By Rachel Love

"In Pursuit Of" drew heat at last year's Battle after using the final minutes of their set to talk about their faith. However, according to band mate Ian Nelson, their faith is responsible for bringing them together as all the members met performing at various church functions.

Nelson describes their sound as "pop-energy rock" and sites influences such as Switchfoot, Copeland, U2, Coldplay and Disney classics (they are self-professed "music geeks"). This year you can expect another surprise from IPO (it has to do with drums).

This is their second year in the Battle and they are all excited, having worked recently on creating their first demo (for sale on Friday). As for IPO's future, because the members range in age from 18 to 24, their plans are uncertain, but they have a long-term goal to continue playing music together for as long as possible.

Left Foot Forward

By Rick Crawford

Left Foot Forward, who has been led by lead singer Sean Hanna since 2002, and has been with the same group now since 2006, will play in their first Battle of the Bands today. Described as alternative rock with influences from a variety of bands including Collective Soul, John Mayer, Deathcab for Cutie and even Queen, Left Foot Forward plays from their passion and want you to enjoy the show.

Their only goal for the future is to play as long as possible together - they will rock you with their best known song, "Falling Under." Get ready for a whole new song which they will play for the first time, tonight.

The Manimals

By Rick Crawford

Self-described as New Orleans Funk Music, The Manimals will be playing in their first-ever Battle of the Bands. A band that mostly prefers playing parties, likes being a feel-good band and wants to continue to play as much as possible.

With influence from The Meters, The Temptations, and many others, the Manimals, a band together since 2005, will draw your attention with songs like "Boombox," a shout out to early hip-hop artists.

When asked if they have any surprises for tonight, drummer Mark Blanding simply replies, "yes."

One Third Kosher

By Rachel Love

"One Third Kosher" is arguably one of the best bands to listen to AND hang out with. Three of the five members live at a house nicknamed "The Hub" where the extended OSU marching band family can often be found spending evenings jamming around a bonfire.

Most of OTK met in McNary their freshman year and they've been together ever since. Originally only three members, they got their name from the third member's Jewish heritage. One Third Kosher defines their sound as "old school," citing influences such as early 90s grunge and classic rock.

They've refined their sound lately with the addition of two new songs, set to debut this Friday, that exemplify their influences. Having practiced more seriously as of late, they are confident in their impending performance and expect to "bring the noise." One Third Kosher will be rocking OSU for at least another year.

Rental 58

By Jeremy Hansen

Rental 58 has been busy. Not only have they released a new record, "The Other Side of Summer," this month, but this Blink 182 meets New Found Glory band is also hitting the stage today at OSU's own Battle of the Bands.

Rental 58 has been constantly touring and getting their name out since February 2005.

"Since we formed, we have played over 120 shows, had five west coast tours and recorded our new seven song LP," Bradley said. "The new EP is a good portrayal of where we are at as a band. We are super stoked."

This isn't their first entry into the Battle, but their goal is still the same.

"We have played the Battle of the Bands the last few years, since we started going to OSU," Bradley said. "We want to go out on stage and have fun. We want the audience to have fun."

Battle of the Bands is the perfect start to their summer tour, and another notch in what could be a long history.

"We are going to keep playing music and tour as much as possible," Bradley said. "Wherever the band takes us, that's where we are going. We will keep being a band as long as it keeps being fun."

Battle of the Bands Schedule
4:00 p.m. The Dimes
5:00 p.m. Jamestown Story
5:30 p.m. Left Foot Forward
6:00 p.m. E_Cubed
6:30 p.m. Rental 58
7:00 p.m. Chemical Warbear
7:30 p.m. Pilot Light
8:00 p.m. One Third Kosher
8:30 p.m. Blue Ember
9:00 p.m. Action Panther
9:30 p.m. In Pursuit Of
10:00 p.m. Break As We Fall
10:30 p.m. Honest To Empire
11:00 p.m. The Manimals