The stage is set, the lights are low, and the crowd goes wild. Six bands enter, and one leaves victorious. After five long years, TMUsicians’ Battle of the Bands is back!
After a five-year-long COVID-19-induced hiatus, TMUsicians has returned with their eighth annual Battle of the Bands held this year at TD Music Hall. Taking to the stage are Taplin, So Delicious, Aden Worton, Daphne, Mystique and Placeholders.
TMUsicians, a club at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) dubbed the school’s unofficial music hub, organized the music battle; spearheaded by the club’s president, Tom Masterson, and finance chair Olivia Presti.
Judged by industry professionals Chris Blades, Michelle Treacy and Max Cotter, the participating bands not only fought for the title of band of the year but also for the chance to record their music at Allied Music Centre’s Deane Cameron Recording Studio.
“It’s really beautiful to see the initiative of putting this together and the energy everybody brought to their performances,” says Cotter.
As attendees made their way to TD Music Hall, they were met with dark skies, cold air and streets flooded with snow brought in by storm winds that painted Toronto white. Despite the treacherous conditions outside, a dedicated crowd gathered, undeterred by the weather, to partake in the long-awaited return of TMUsicians’ Battle of the Bands.
To describe this event as a ‘battle’ may not be the most apt term for what it felt like to attend. This year’s concert felt akin to a celebration of music, with a diverse range of genres being represented, from jazz-inspired rock to psychedelic pop. Each band brought their own unique style and performance. But alas, only one band can be declared the winner.
The opportunity to play a venue of this calibre was a dream in and of itself for some contestants, especially for those performing for the first time in such a setting.
Aden Worton, a solo musician, was tasked with putting together a band in two weeks time after being selected from the 17 other bands that auditioned for this opportunity. The announcement of Worton’s selection came with much surprise, having only performed at a wedding and a party before that point.
“It was a challenge. Honestly, it takes a lot of time to figure out how to coordinate a backing track. And I had to pull a band together in two weeks,” says Worton. “I worked with a recording engineer who I’m friends with, and he told me about our drummer Arthur. And so I messaged him when I found out we were selected. He was immediately on board,”
The bands were also awarded for spectacular aspects of their performances. Julia Fung, vocalist and guitarist for So Delicious, took home the ‘Best Original Song’ award with their beautiful (and fantastically named) single, “I Didn’t Mean to Take Your Air Pods.” This recognition of her band’s creation alone was enough to set her heart ablaze.
“It’s the best compliment a songwriter could ever get, and honestly, it’s a dream to win something,” says Fung. “But at the same time, being able to perform here was already a dream for me. I’m definitely going to keep doing this-, until I die.”
So Delicious, appropriately named for its music that is so sweet to the ear, tranced the crowd with dulcet vocals and a performance from Walter Chan on the saxophone that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
“We’ve been preparing for this for about a month, practicing every few weeks,” says Fung, “I’m really proud of how everything came together. My band members put so much effort into helping me arrange the songs that I wrote.”
As the concert hall brimmed with excitement like an amp bursting with sound, the green room was just as busy with people coming in and out of wardrobes to prepare for the show. Each band had its own way of calming nerves and getting ready for its set. However, Taplin had the most unique preparation method.
“We’re really just hyping ourselves up by eating Rice Krispies and pizza. Pretty much just filling up on the good stuff,” says Colin Higney, bassist for Taplin, “I had four Rice Krispies.”
For other performers, anxiety is present right up until they find themselves on stage.
“I’m nervous all the way up until I play the first chord, and then it’s just gone. And I’m just muscle memory from there,” says Worton.
“For me, every time I get on a stage, it’s a very magical experience. I feel like I’m just lost in the music. I’m still equally as nervous as I’m excited,” says Fung.
Although all the bands present are so different in sound, they are alike in the dedication it takes to be an independent artist. For example, Taplin, who mix, master, and produce their own music, says it takes a toll on their mental health.
“Producing itself is pretty fun, seeing how everything comes together. But then, when you’re on the third mix, and you’re thinking, what is this? Why is the bass still so quiet? It gets frustrating, but recording in my basement is definitely great,” says Higney.
With the weather outside so frightful, it was no wonder that the crowd reacted with so much love and adoration towards Daphne’s girl band-inspired presentation and summer pop vibes. Daphne, awarded for both ‘Best Audience Engagement’ and ‘Most Star Power,’ garnered much adoration from judges and the crowd alike.
“This person is fierce and filled with so much star power,” said Treacy moments before handing off the award. “I can see them opening for Olivia Rodrigo, I can see them on a tour, I want to buy their brand. They are a person who has the most identity as an artist currently, and they are growing, and I am excited for them.”
Going from the summer vibes of Daphne to Placeholders set afterwards hit the crowd with the absolute force of a hurricane. So much so that a mosh pit formed from the dark, heavy, ugly, sludge-ridden riffs brought to you by Evan Johnston on the guitar, Sebastian Waits on the bass and Noah Jack on the drums. Ethan Petch’s vocals took the crowd by surprise.
A scary, haunting, wailing and beautiful vocal performance from Petch resonated with audience members so much so that heads were banging, fists went flying, and people stomped at the ground with brutal force.
From start to finish, Placeholders gave a stellar performance that landed them a well-deserved victory at this year’s Battle of the Bands. Placeholders are sure to make waves in the future purely based on their performance and sound-, it is at the disservice of future listeners not to keep tabs on these up-and-coming music titans.
Each band has graced the stage in this year’s eighth annual Battle of the Bands with their unique artistry, captivating the hearts and minds of audiences.
TMUsicians, with their unwavering dedication and leadership, provided a platform for aspiring musicians to shine by fostering an environment where creativity flourishes and dreams take flight. As the curtains close, this showcase serves as a testament to the transformative power of music, and how it can shape the lives and careers of those inspired to find their way into the industry.
Luis Ramirez-Liberato for The B-Side
