University of Rhode Island band Marble House took home first place in the URI Musician’s Guild Big Nice Battle of the Bands on Saturday night in the Memorial Union’s Rainville Ballroom.
The free show featured performances from eight URI bands: Cough Drop, Fermat, Marble House, Morning Shower, Moss Boy and the Critters, Orphans on Fire, Rose Tint and Told Not to Worry. Genres performed spanned from indie-rock to screamo, showcasing the diversity of the Guild’s music scene.
Each band performed three songs (usually a blend of originals and covers) while audience members moshed and bounced around neon-colored beach balls. Bands got to choose their projection background, which provided imagery from animal fights to marble races.
Speaking of marbles, indie-rock band Marble House was the third band to perform, winning first place after an audience vote. This makes their second Guild accolade, previously winning the Rock ‘n Swap competition last semester. The band won a full day of recording time at Big Nice Studios, a full service studio in Rhode Island.
“There will definitely be Marble House music in the future,” fourth-year drummer Leah Popovic said. “You can expect Marble House to continue.”
Their winning set kicked off with their two original songs: “Untitled (Dedicated to Jack Cox)” and “Drunk Driving (Going Going Gone).” The band chose to close with a cover of Paramore’s “All I Wanted,” Paramore being a staple in their sets. The continuing bit was the brainchild of second-year bassist Vic Paulino, according to Popovic.
This cover was chosen by Marble House to highlight first year vocalist Gwen Kavanaugh’s skills, as well as third-year keyboardist and backup vocalist Abigail Orlando’s harmonies.
“When I was in early high school and middle school I couldn’t sing it,” Kavanaugh said. “I made it a lifelong goal.”
“All I Wanted” is known for its vocal difficulty, not sung live by Paramore themselves until 2022, 13 years after its initial release.
Marble House also emphasized their appreciation of the other talent on stage.
“I’m a huge Rose Tint fan,” Kavanaugh said. “I love seeing them perform.”
Popovic and Kavanaugh also gave kudos to Told Not to Worry, who closed out the show. Popovic gave a special shout out to fourth-year Jane Wilson, the band’s lead vocalist.
“I could watch her perform forever,” Popovic said. “She’s probably the most talented person in the room at all times.”
Told Not to Worry wasn’t the only group to perform one of their first few shows at the competition.
Cough Drop performed their second show ever Saturday, showcasing three original songs: “Tinder at 7%,” “Bones Creek or Bones Creak?” and “Santa Claus Isn’t Real and I’m Pissed About It.” The group made their debut at the cozy and intimate 193 Coffeehouse on March 21.
The change in venue was a difficult transition, according to second-year guitarist Ryan Baudisch.
“I feel like being on a big stage is definitely more intimidating than being on the floor,” Baudisch said.
Baudisch and second-year bassist Peter Tolmei co-wrote “Santa Claus Isn’t Real and I’m Pissed About It,” Baudisch’s favorite song from the set.
“We wrote it like two days before the show,” Baudisch said. “It turned out to be so awesome.”
Baudisch gave kudos to the Guild for the community that brought the group together.
“I think it’s more than just playing the music,” Baudisch said. “I would rather have a community and really good friends than just have a really good band.”
The Guild presents concerts along with their band battles each semester. More information can be found on their Instagram page, @urimusiciansguild.