Toad wins big at Battle of the Bands, claims spot in Shabang lineup
Ella Giuliani is a content writer for KCPR. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
I vividly remember last year’s Battle of the Bands show in San Luis Obispo: the feverish rush I felt from seeing bands who typically serenade in backyards now performing on the Fremont stage, the pure euphoria on audience members’ faces as they listened to their favorite local bands all in one place, the collective anticipation of which group would take home the prize money and coveted spot to perform at Shabang Music, Arts, & Camping Festival.
Finally, I recall the echo of applause that filled the room as Margot Sinclair, the local five-man indie-rock band, returned to the stage, taking the victory. I remember that night ending with a wave of overwhelming anticipation for Shabang, as fans filled out the Fremont, ready to see Margot Sinclair on the big festival stage.
This year was no exception, as the third annual Battle of the Bands Tour, hosted by Shabang and Free the Youth, made its last stop in San Luis Obispo and marked the first weekend of Cal Poly’s spring quarter.
To enter the Fremont last Friday night was to join a queue of students, SLOcals, and music enthusiasts, eager to dance and cheer for the 5 local bands selected to perform.
The competing groups, Avalynn, Big Sierra, Toad, Skipping Breakfast and Tiny Plastic Everything, each came along with a trail of groupies. Some fans were adorned with their favorite band’s merch, while others rocked their own unique forms of expression. One group of friends used face paint as an artistic accessory, while another designed signs as extensions of their outfits, reading phrases such as, “Tits out for Toad.”
The sets went by quickly, with each band only allotted 15 minutes to perform on the Fremont stage.
Some groups, such as Skipping Breakfast, chose to distribute stickers and zines, showering the audience with these goodies at the end of their set. Other groups like Avalynn embraced the mosh, with people crowd surfing and boys in Avalynn tees rallying the audience to move.
As a member of the crowd, I was convinced after each set that the band that had just performed would win. The audience was electric for every performer and invigorated by the many genres generated in one room.
After Toad, the last performing band’s set came to a close, and it was time to vote. A phone number was displayed on the screen for the audience to cast their vote and contribute to deciding who would take home the prize money and spot in the Shabang 2025 line-up. Followed by screams of delight, Toad returned to the stage to receive their check, claiming the title of the winning band.
As an attendee, I left the event feeling inspired by the many talented musicians on stage, as well as the student groups behind the scenes.
Battle of the Bands was founded by Ari Cohen in 2023, a Cal Poly Business Administration student in his second year, looking for a way to empower the local music scene and provide avenues for their voices to be heard by larger audiences.
“It’s really important that Shabang is giving opportunities for people like us who want to gain professional experience working in music,” Battle of the Bands intern Dillan Yee said.
“We have the backing of such a cool, important and established music festival, but we get to run these more experimental and local shows,” intern Maya Katz also shared.
With another year under Battle of the Bands’ belt, the music community’s support is continuing to grow. In the past three years, Battle of the Bands has spotlighted over 50 bands from 6 different cities, prompting an overall appreciation for local talent and offering these artists a way to perform on their biggest stages yet.
To watch Toad perform at Shabang this May 2 and 3 in San Luis Obispo, tickets can be purchased here.
