REVIEW: WONDERLAND BATTLE OF THE BANDS @ UNDER HILL AND OVER HILL 9/28
Graphic Credit: waxpersons
Review by Sophia Tierney
The Wonderland Battle of the Bands brought together a great crowd of music-inclined Boston college kids under one Brookline church roof; I’m sure most for the first time. But on September 28, 2024, worship they did. There were five bands in all, each representing a different Boston school. Letters in June opened, followed by Uma Thermos, Ana Schon & the Reunion, Cherry Crisis, and the night wrapped up with Hollow Earth. There was a diversity of sounds but a solid, positive energy throughout the battle.
The first band was Letters in June, representing Boston College, which set a bright tone for the night. Olaf Konrad was on guitar and vocals, Aiden Joyce was on drums, and Alex Brown was on bass guitar. The three-piece band got the crowd moving, closing with an upbeat cover of “Good Good Things” by the Descendents. It was a tame set with majority covers, but the perfect lead-in to the rest of the bands.
Uma Thermos represented Boston University and brought a wonderful variety of songs. The set was upbeat and fresh, flowing from groovy to heavier breakdowns. Clear, strong vocals filled the space, and the long guitar solos were crisp.
Ana Schon and the Reunion, repping Berklee, was my personal favorite of the battle. The band was incredibly dynamic, with quiet breaks building into loud, impactful sections in almost every original song. The drummer stood out in creativity as well as technical skill. Ana Schon, the lead vocalist (in the cutest red tights), had immaculate control and a delicate voice. Ana Schon & the Reunion’s music floated around the typical, timeless relationship aches that always hit, especially for a crowd of 18 to 22-year-olds in early autumn. The incorporation of Spanish into some of their music made the band stand out among the rest. Ana Schon herself is Argentinian and one half of the Argentina-based duo “Borneo,” whose influence could be felt in the music as well.
Next came Cherry Crisis, representing Northeastern, my runner-up favorite. Riley Chapman (founder of the band) was on guitar, Andy Keiper was on bass, Lucy Frank was on vocals, and Cami Parrish was on drums. Their set was more musically simplistic but in a pleasing, minimalist kind of way. The vocals were robust, and the composition was well-developed. The crowd all sang along to their recently released single “Lemons.” While centered around indie-rock, Cherry Crisis mixed things up with some swing-inspired music as well. Their bright tone reminded me of the amazing artist Juliana Hatfield, another Boston talent from the 90s.
Victor of the battle, Hollow Earth, took the stage last and immediately left their mark in the name of Tufts (for better or worse). While the rest of the bands centered around 90s-inspired indie-rock, Hollow Earth had its own sound entirely. The bass player wore a sheisty, with double-sagging Adidas sweats to match. On the other side of the stage and spectrum, another band member deftly switched between heavily distorted keys to a mean performance on the saxophone. The vocalist was more casual and interactive than the rest, getting the crowd moving by far the most. Self-described as “Boston’s first heterophonic punk band,” their esoteric overlays created an interesting effect. While the performance was definitely unique, it was not exactly my cup of tea. The band leaned heavily on the topic of drugs as a crutch, which came off as corny, not edgy. However, Hollow Earth kept the energy up between songs and launched merch into the happy, moshing crowd that crowned them the champion!
The Wonderland Battle of the Bands collected an incredible array of emerging young talent in one space. Even though the acoustics and lighting of the church left a bit to be desired, the music, joy, and energy from each band smoothed over any rough edges. While Hollow Earth defeated its competitors with its unique sound, look, and gimmicks, they were not the clear-cut winner in terms of stand-alone musical talent. It was a stiff competition full of passion, and I look forward to following what the bands accomplish at their respective schools and beyond.
This review has been updated to correct the correct spelling of Cherry Crisis.