Bringing a heavy and rock-filled night to Pullman, four bands will collide in SEB’s second annual Battle of the Bands starting at 5 p.m. in The Emporium on Thursday. Featured bands include Sunbather Die, Atomsk, Horizons and Fall of the Conscience.
The event puts the decision in the hands of the audience: after all bands play their sets, they will vote on their favorite to win. The decided victor will receive both a cash prize and the opportunity to headline a concert in April, a part of the “Zuutopia” spring music festival hosted by the Student Entertainment Board.
Until 8 p.m., The Emporium will welcome anyone over 18, giving younger students or community members the opportunity to rock out. It is also free for anyone in attendance.
The bands performing are all from Washington, said Jeffrey Myers, senior and SEB Concerts director. Three are based in Spokane, the other in Seattle.
“This is just a cool opportunity to meet people who are trying to make a name for themselves,” Myers said. “We also wanted to do this at The Emporium so we’re putting the music in different areas, different locations and shaking the genres up.”
Each of the bands have a distinct and unique voice, but this year’s collective genre is on the heavier side. Myers said the lineup leans more toward the rock genre, including some punk and metallic elements.
The four bands performing range from all levels of popularity and experience, with some only getting into the scene last fall. This Battle of the Bands will give them an opportunity to show themselves off and break into Pullman’s rock community.
Sunbather Die, the only Seattle-based band, is one of the more fierce contenders of the lot. Having already won a different Battle of the Bands, the trio of guitar, bass and drums brings an experience no one else in the lineup holds.
They are also the widest traveled, performing in more than four states across the PNW and Canada. With their first gigs near the end of 2023, Sunbather Die is still a relatively young band, but finds themselves pushed by the local scene.
“The scene in Seattle is just crazy. Every show we play, I feel like it’s great band after great band and that just makes us want to be at our best each time,” said Dominic Ermi, Sunbather Die’s bassist.
This will be Sunbather Die’s first time performing in Pullman and on the east side of Washington. They said they are excited to hear the local heavy scene, especially with what they have seen of the band lineup for the event. More information on their music and upcoming shows can be found on their Instagram.
Atomsk is a Spokane-based band that proclaims itself as a slew of genres, highlighting post hardcore, scream and shoegaze. The band said they take a lot of inspiration from Modern Color, a post-hardcore rock band.
For being a more recently-formed band, Atomsk has been incredibly active in the Spokane scene, surging their popularity. Gavin Gorman, Atomsk’s guitarist, said none of their future gigs were booked directly by them.
“We’ve been invited to numerous shows, like our entire roadmap from March to June,” Gorman said. “It’s awesome because it’s like, ‘Oh my god, people actually seem to want to play with us.’”
The band has two singles out on Spotify with an album coming in May. More information about shows and music can be found on their Instagram.
Fall of the Conscience, also based in Spokane, is an alternative rock and indie band with five members. With nearly 10,000 followers on Instagram, they are easily the most popular band social media-wise.
“Nevermind”, their most popular single, has reached over 20,000 streams on Spotify. They have recently added a new vocalist to the band, speaking to new possibilities for their sound and style.
Horizons, the last Spokane-based band with four members, is no stranger to collaborative shows. Performing most often at the Big Dipper in Spokane, they have found themselves alongside fellow-performer Atomsk for multiple shows. This time, the two bands will meet in a musical battle.
More information about future shows and music can be found on their Instagram.
With four unique and reputed bands on the docket, the second annual Battle of the Bands lends itself to be a close fight. SEB encourages any students and their friends to attend the free, 18+ event at The Emporium, located on 600 NE Colorado St. Suite 100c.
