On Friday, March 27th, a large crowd gathered in the Scituate Performing Arts Center to experience one of the most exhilarating performances to date — the Battle of the Bands.
High school students from Scituate, Hingham, Duxbury, and Pembroke showed up to represent their love for music as well as their skills. They were being judged by well-known, knowledgeable musicians, which upped the stakes for the performers.
In third place came the band Mr. Willis, an electrifying act that showcased their love of music with a rock performance that shook the audience to its core. The members include SHS seniors Liam Theriault and Wesley Robertson, as well as SHS juniors Myles Osborne and Liam Hugues.
In second place was the band Revel, the last band to perform, and they made sure the audience remembered their name. They used a combination of memorable songs and a distinct energy to win over the crowd. The members include SHS sophomores Piper Levirne and August Ames, seniors Jacob Kenneway and Aidan Campbell, and Pembroke High School student Jake Harnden.
Finally, the first-place winners, Stained Glass Windows, gave an outstanding performance that the crowd will remember for a lifetime. The lead singer, SHS senior McKenzie Gilmore, showcased her profound talent and skill, and her genuine love for music radiated through the auditorium. August Ames, an incredible pianist, played with true expertise and demonstrated his passion for the craft in his performance. SHS senior Will Larson, an unbelievable drummer, really tied the band together. Between the band’s skill, enthusiasm, and consideration, they deserved the first-place win.
However, the stage wasn’t the only place that was booming with energy: backstage was one of the most welcoming spaces. In fact, different bands agreed — there was no isolation among the bands. People were mingling and having fun; there was no animosity between them because of the competition. Conversations flowed, people were kind, and everyone had a good attitude toward one another. Musicians saw the competition as a chance to meet new, cool people and listen to live music.
Larson mentioned, “Obviously, we were there for the fun. It was a great opportunity to perform in front of so many people. The prize was just a cool addition.” With so much talent, nobody knew who would win. “Everyone was so incredibly talented that I had no clue who would win, or that we would win! Everyone had so much to bring to the table,” commented Gilmore.
Members of the audience were encouraged to dance and express themselves in every way throughout the show. Many bands noted that the crowd was much bigger than they expected, significantly larger than last year’s Battle of the Bands’ audience. SHS sophomore Grant Slater, a member of the band the Tow Truck, said, “I was very surprised at how many people came. I didn’t know so many people would be there.”
It was a night that many will never forget. Whether it was due to the incredible performances or the audience’s electric energy, many walked out feeling more closely connected to their community and to the music.