UMBROS takes top spot at battle

By Rebecca Prinster, Reporter

Published April 6, 2007

The Battle of the Bands pitted five bands against each other for a grand prize of $500, a spot on the bill for Springfest on May 5 and lots of Red Bull. The event, sponsored by the Missouri Students Association's Department of Student Activities, was Wednesday night in Jesse Auditorium.

About 50 people attended the event, but this didn't discourage the participants. Instead the size provided an intimacy that gave the evening a communal feel. Nearly every band directly addressed members of the audience. The bands even shared a drum set and in one case, a guitar.

After opener Audio Ammunition, Ann Driscoll took the stage and was joined by a backing band. From the start, it was clearly Driscoll's project with the other members merely filling out her pop songs. Driscoll's vocals hit hard but sounded sweet at the same time, and her guitar playing carried each song.

After a short intermission, the two-man group UMBROS started off the second half of the evening with a different style than the rest of the acts. The two served up their own ambient rock with just two guitars and an array of pedals manned by guitarist Erik Moore. When Stephen Howard broke a guitar string during the first song, he carried on but borrowed Driscoll's guitar for UMBROS' last song.

Next up was a three-person act, Blevins?, from the Columbia area. With Ann Driscoll filling out the three-piece on bass, Blevins?'s folk-punk style proved the most energetic of the evening. Mike Daly's drumming and Patrick Broz's guitar-playing came across as both aggressive and graceful, and Driscoll's intricate bass lines created a melodic foundation.

The Tipper Gores closed the night with a blast of alt-country. Definitely the most solid group of the night, the Gores appeared to be a shoo-in for first place. While Blevins? was all about fast-paced, unrestrained energy, The Tipper Gores harnessed their force into a clean and captivating package. A great deal of credit goes to drummer Matt Fetterly for keeping the band solid through the whole set.

Junior Jake Fischbach said he expected The Tipper Gores to win.

"They had the best drummer and the most consistent harmonies throughout the whole set," he said. "I guess you could say they were the most cohesive."

After the judges' counted their votes, UMBROS came out on top, followed by Blevins? in second place and The Tipper Gores in third.

Of all their prizes, a spot on the bill for Springfest excited the two men of UMBROS the most because Russian Circles, a band similar to UMBROS, will also play. The two plan on using their other prize, the $500, to record a new album.

Howard and Moore, both juniors at MU, started the band in order to open a show for their friends in Iowa City, Iowa. Both are interested in instrumental music — Moore even hosts an instrumental show on KCOU/88.1 FM — and claim Mogwai as their biggest influence.

"Mr. Beast has been stuck in my car stereo," Howard said. "It's probably the best CD to get stuck in your stereo."

UMBROS just returned from a Midwest tour. They will play at Springfest on May 5.