The Old University Union Undergrounds was filled with the sound of music this past weekend as the 2007 Battle of the Bands took place. The event stretched over three consecutive nights, with six bands playing on both Thursday and Friday, and five bands rockin’ in the finals on Saturday. Soundhouse, the funk and soul band fronted by campus ‘celebrity’ Jesse Nathaniel Reed, won first place, with the Trip Wilsons coming in second and campus favorite Inner City Fire winning third place.

As the victor in the battle, Soundhouse won $500 ‘ but more importantly, they will be opening for Reel Big Fish and Head Automatica at this weekend’s Spring Fling festival.

Reel Big Fish, a ska band from Southern California, came onto the music scene in the mid-1990s with the hit song ‘Sell Out.’ The group’s members play instruments ranging from guitar to trombone to piano. Their latest album was released this past February.

Head Automatica, the pop/electronica group famous for their 2005 single ‘Beating Hearts Baby,’ is also scheduled to open for Reel Big Fish.

The privilege of performing at Spring Fling before the headlining bands come on stage has become a tradition at BU for the winner of Battle of the Bands. This year over 30 bands auditioned for the event ‘ a record high ‘ either through live performance or recorded CDs.

Groups in the Battle of the Bands had to follow a handful of guidelines if they wanted a chance at winning the competition. Each band had 20 minutes to play, with deductions for time spent playing over the limit. Groups had to have at least one member attending Binghamton University in order to compete in the battle.

The event’s three judges evaluated the bands on many different aspects of their performances.

‘Bands were judged on such criteria as vocals, stage presence, instrumental, overall performance, enthusiasm and how well they were working the crowd,’ said Hicania Gomez, a graduate assistant for Late Nite Binghamton.

Twenty-five percent of a band’s score came from audience votes. This aspect of the competition factored in largely for some of the contestants. The Trip Wilsons, an indie rock trio, brought a multitude of people with them to the show, helping them to ultimately secure the second place slot.

The Trip Wilsons gave an energetic performance, blending many different styles including indie, experimental and blues. The band covered ‘St. James Infirmary,’ an old blues standard, but gave it an indie sound reminiscent of the group Modest Mouse.

Despite a number of stellar performances, the crowd favorite of the night was Soundhouse, featuring the well-clad Jesse Reed, known on campus as Mr. Reed, as lead singer. The multicultural band played an array of funk and soul-tinged songs, while Reed at times appeared to be a less manic James Brown. Reed had the crowds’ hands waving back and forth in unison, catching the attention of the audience with ease.

Hundreds of people crowded the Undergrounds over the course of the night, making it one of the most successful and well-attended Late Nite Binghamton events of the entire semester.

‘Soundhouse was my favorite band of the night. They had so much energy and volume. Mr. Reed was the life of the band ‘ without him it would have been just a chill jam session,’ said Will Villena, a junior computer science major.

Upon winning, Mr. Reed gave a message to all of the people attending: ‘Keep up the music.’

Students who are planning on checking out Reel Big Fish and Head Automatica will be equally entertained by the music of Soundhouse, as all three bands are sure to make this year’s Spring Fling festival a memorable one.