The Wiley Fox witnessed a dramatic end to Battle of the Bands last night as four diverse acts took to the stage. The competition, organised by Trinity Ents, offers winner the opportunity to play on the Trinity Ball stage. The conclusion of the competition once again highlighted the attraction of a spot on the Trinity Ball line-up, enticing some of the country’s best up and coming university based performers. From topless routines to vomiting front-men, bleeding fingers to mid-set breakdancing, the night had something for everyone. While each artist gave the performance of their lives, there could only be one winner, and Nobody’s Heroes were deemed worthy of the stage at Trinity Ball.
For the first time this year, attendees were charged an entry fee of €5 to the Battle of the Bands final, which will go towards the art installation fund for Trinity Ball itself. That certainly didn’t hold people back, however, as crowds flooded into the Wiley Fox. Considering the quality of the acts and what was at stake, people most definitely got their money’s worth. Each performer was given 30 minutes to show their worth and leave a lasting impression on the three judges on the night. The panel included Live Music Officer on the Ents Committee, Seamas Ó hAoláin, as well as former Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Entertainments Officer Katie Cogan and TCDSU Entertainments Officer-elect, Jonah Craig.
First to take to the stage was Nobody’s Heroes, hailing from Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). The group would have been slight favourites going into the final, based on the fact that they performed at Trinity Ball last year courtesy of Battle of the Bands – last year the top three finalist were all added to the line-up. They needed to win the competition this time round, so there was a lot to play for.
Nobody’s Heroes’ set included covers by Catfish and the Bottlemen and Bruno Mars, as well as four original songs from their upcoming album Let Loose which they hope to release very soon. The group performed fantastically as a whole, led by lead singer Neo Morake, who was by far the stand out vocalist on the night. Their set covered a variety of genres such as rock, funk and pop. The crowd seemed a little muted to begin with. But as the set progressed there was more interaction with the crowd and by the end the venue was rocking from front to back. The bar had been set very high.
Next up was JyellowL, an up-and-coming rapper destined to leave a mark on the Irish hip-hop scene. Last year he released his first single called “Life Right Now”, which can be found on Apple Music and Spotify. Standing alone on stage for much of his set, his intentions for a lively atmosphere were clear from the off, bringing his very own “Energy Crew” to provide attention and support. There was constant moshing at the front of the stage and recurring call and response between performer and crowd which really added to what was a very intense and engaging performance. JyellowL’s set was completely original, which was a sign of confidence in his ability as a writer. His set was unique in the sense that he was joined onstage and offstage by some guest performers. For two of his songs he welcomed his very own hype man who really interacted with the crowd and also gave JyellowL the opportunity to join his supporters in the mosh pit. Three break-dancers also added another element to a very innovative set as they choreographed a dance to one of the rapper’s tracks. By the end the rapper was full of adrenaline and emotion. He didn’t hold back as he told the audience: “I’m here to win it.”
The penultimate act Moogee also separated themselves from the crowd by bringing their own unique sound to the table. Their use of a microkorg keyboard suggested an electronic vibe that most of the audience were less familiar with. This particular group had a full crowd from the very beginning and despite some sound issues and technical difficulties they left their mark. Like Nobody’s Heroes, their set featured a number of original songs along with two covers. Moogee stood out thanks to their amazing percussive sound which featured a combination of both drums and bongos. Their versatility shone through as they were constantly switching roles throughout the 30 minute slot. The group had members switching between bass and electric guitar, while there were two drummers, three vocalists and two manned the microkorg. The second half of their set was particularly memorable as they had the crowd in shock with their two covers, the first of which was “Dance Wiv Me” by Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris. However, nobody was prepared for their incredible finale where their drummer, Dúigí Mercer, left his usual position, took centre stage and delivered a phenomenal performance of “King Kunta” by Kendrick Lamar.
Despite being brought in as a wildcard entry, Blaming Hannah embraced their underdog status as they gave an incredible account of themselves. The Cork-based group, who last year released their first single “I’m Alive”, came into the final on the back of supporting Ryan Sheridan and singer-songwriter Eve Belle at Trinity Hall Ball on Friday last. Therefore they were determined to stamp their authority on the night and set up an epic climax, and they certainly achieved that. Like JyellowL, Blaming Hannah only performed original material from their upcoming EP. Despite not having the biggest crowd of the night, they certainly put themselves in contention by living up to expectations. Led by lead singer and guitarist Fionn Tobin – who possessed all the characteristics of a classic front man – the band’s constant energy throughout encouraged crowd participation. An electrifying performance brought the music to a close.
After much deliberation, the judges took to the stage. Before announcing the winner, Cogan said that “being involved in the Battle of the Bands” over the last few years “has been incredible”. She was amazed at how much the style of the competition has changed, whereby a lot of applicants in the past were of “indie or alternative style” and that now with the emergence of genres such as “hip-hop, kojak”, it has become “really diverse”. Cogan praised Nobody’s Heroes willingness to continue to make music, expose themselves, come back and emerge victorious. Fellow judge Ó hAoláin praised the hard work of the bands since the competition opened in November, describing the standard of music as “overwhelming”.
The victors had the final word. Gavin, Hubert, Jgary and Neo of Nobody’s Heroes expressed how “shocked” they were to have won, they “weren’t really expecting it at all” and they were very complimentary about their competitors. Also when asked about the prospect of playing Trinity Ball again, they said that “it was the best night of the year last year” and the fact that “it’s on the main stage is even better”. They were understandably lost for words – a testament to how competitive it was and how difficult it was to choose a winner.
