As billiard balls ricocheted across pool tables at Tommy’s Place, students trickled into the underground concert venue and lingered over cues while organizers tested microphones and stage lights before USC Concerts Committee’s annual Battle of the Bands competition on Friday night — a competition where one group earns a coveted spot at the annual Springfest concert.

On Friday night, the Undergraduate Student Government’s live music organization, hosted its third annual Battle of the Bands, where four student-led bands competed against each other, playing roughly four songs each, both covers and originals, before audience members voted on the best performance via QR code for the group they wanted to see perform at Springfest on April 4.

“Rather than it only being our decision, we let everybody have a say on who they want to see perform,” said Ana Molina, Concerts Committee special events co-director and a senior majoring in music industry. “People have the opportunity to say who they’re here for.”

Springfest is a highly sought-after performance opportunity because it gives student-artists the rare chance to share the stage with nationally recognized artists. Last year’s headliner was Don Toliver, making the Battle of the Bands slot one of the organization’s most competitive opportunities.

The night opened with Ponytrick, an indie rock band formed in Fall 2024. During their original song “the wait,” attendees sang along and lip-synced much of the main chorus, a sign of the band’s growing following despite its recent formation.

“Performing in front of your friends is very different than performing for a bunch of people you don’t know,” said Sean Coughlin, the band’s guitarist and a junior majoring in popular music performance.

Beyond the stage experience that student musicians gain, Molina said that the event also provided those behind the scenes with hands-on experience as they worked to make the night possible.

“Helping out for concerts has always been a great experience in learning how to promote and produce a show,” Molina said. “Whether you want to work at a record label and do special events for any artist in the label, or whether you want to work in production or be a tour manager, you get the basics and get to experiment with it on a small scale.”

Avendetta, the second band, was notably energetic during its performance, especially during its stage entrance. The group of four formed their indie and alternative rock band in their shared hometown of Boulder, Colorado before moving to Los Angeles.

“Energy is a big thing. … No matter what music you’re playing, being able to hype up the crowd and really be into it and look like you’re having a fun time on stage is a big thing for us,” said guitarist Ethan Ostenfeld, a sophomore at Chapman University.

As a part of its energy-building efforts, Avendetta split the room into two cheering sections, calling on each side to outdo the other in volume.

The band emphasized its love for performing with live instruments.

“It’s a dying thing — the chance to play live music and especially because of how passionate we are about it. Just the way we click on our level, I feel like it probably brings that [passion] to the audience,” said guitarist and vocalist Terran McNair.

The third band was Off-Peak, formed recently in Fall 2025, which blends pop, indie and jazz influences. It was formed after lead vocalist Sophie Levy, a sophomore majoring in popular music performance and lead guitarist Ellis Feder, a sophomore majoring in jazz studies, played together in New York this past summer, prompting the creation of a group.   

Between songs during their performance, Levy shared a brief anecdote about a vocal injury she recently dealt with due to overworking herself and focusing too much on her future — a shared experience of overworking among many college students.

She urged the audience to stay present and invited them to take a deep breath together.

The band’s chemistry was clear through their performance.

“It’s a blending of styles. We come from a lot of different backgrounds. I think it definitely sounds a little more raw,” Feder said.

Off-Peak ended with guitarist and vocalist Reagan Dawley, a sophomore majoring in popular music performance, taking over lead vocals in a cover of “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon. Through seamless harmonization, Dawley and Levy added a nuanced richness to the chorus.

The final band to battle was Eastwest & Friends, known for their merging of classical, jazz, pop and R&B influences.

Between each song, their sound gradually transitioned into something more upbeat as they urged the crowd to let loose and dance. Eastwest concluded with two covers: “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean, and the final song of the night, “Redbone” by Childish Gambino.

Following their performance, trumpeter Jack Benson, a sophomore majoring in jazz studies, said performing for fellow students felt more relaxed than playing for general audiences.

“Playing for students … it’s a much more nurturing and supportive environment,” Benson said.

Avendetta guitarist Jack Kallweit highlighted the importance of music beyond the notes themselves, specifically in building an emotional connection with the crowd.

“Connection is so important,” Kallweit said. “The things that people will mostly remember is how the music made them feel.”

Molina said a strong audience turnout can elevate student performances.

“A band could be amazing, but I feel like having an audience and having people excited to see them makes them even better,” Molina said.