Student Band Spring 2025 Recap
Live Music at SLU Has Never Been Better! Live Music at SLU Has Never Been Better!
The spring 2025 semester at St. Lawrence University featured one of the most eclectic arrays of student musical performances in some years. The alternative rock band staple of the SLU community continued rocking out in the free world while the sun slowly set on the starlight of our seniors. Yet, in just a few months, these bands put on tenure-defining shows and many earworms for students to enjoy and remember for years.
The semester started strong on Jan. 30 when the student band Loose Leaf opened for Candy Ambulance at the Java Barn. Java began adding student bands as openers last fall, along with Marcy and SLU-affiliated band Bull Rush Bay. A more casual opener brought a similar energy to shows like SLU Funk (who performed on Feb. 6) or Melon Fest, in which the audience can cheer on their peers and sing along with cover songs with which they are more familiar. Loose Leaf’s performance rendered the same energy. Catchy pop hits from the past few decades and anticipated audiences resulted in a good time. Admittedly, their sound needed plenty of polishing, and the keyboard stand could’ve used more support. However, the seeds were planted for an entertaining semester. Shortly after their Java stint, Loose Leaf set Commons College alight with their standard set on Feb. 8.
Following Commons, Marcy played alongside the newly formed Thystopia at the L.I.G.H.T. House on Feb. 22. Again, the crowd was reeling with excitement to witness their very own friends performing. A majority of the track & field team filled the crowd, with one particular athlete saying, “Call me a glazer, but Adri [vocalist Adriana Cecchetelli ’26] can f***ing sing. God, I love her!”
Loose Leaf returned to defend their dominance by performing at Titus 2025 on March 1. Atop the roughly 2,200-foot-tall mountain, their sound echoed loud enough to cause an avalanche.
In their regularly scheduled fashion, the Arts Annex put on their coveted “Angst” show on March 8. The event always features the hardest grunge, punk, and dirty alternative music you can find. This year, Marcy performed, decked out with streaked eyeliner, spiked hair and plenty of splits (especially from rhythm guitarist Alex Tidd ’25). Comparatively, Angst 2025 was much tamer than years prior; no floorboards were broken, no cops were called, and no person capacity limits were exceeded (as far as we know).
Cecchetelli would continue to call her fans “glazers” leading up to their next performance at the Java Barn Open Mic on March 11. Fraternity and Sorority Life co-hosted the open mic. However, no members of Greek Life helped work or manage the event. (Interesting…) It featured several SLU musicians, including a guitar-and-vocals solo performance from Galen Halasz ’27, acoustic duo Hannah Bennett ’27 and Keegan Leboffe ’27, and a refined version of Loose Leaf featuring Malcolm Suarez ’25, Maddie Kostoss ’25 and Carly Hansen ’25. All three seniors have performed in different acts since their first years at SLU, always finding their way back to each other and back to the Java stage. From Melodramania to Sprawl to Loose Leaf, the dynamic trio and their ever-eccentric collaborators have proven that a small liberal arts school in the middle of nowhere can produce some truly influential talent.
On March 27, Marcy marked their second opening slot at Java, opening for Brule County Bad Boys. Thystopia took two quick and chaotic stops on Park St. First, they played at the Campus Kitchens house on March 28. Many were skeptical about the tight space, but the band still gave their all to get the people jumping and bumping. The following day, they performed at the Power House formal without the “mitochondria” drummer Jack Fortier ’27, who was ill. But the show must continue, with bassist John Pollard ’26 of SUNY Canton filling in on drums and guitarist Will Chalfant ’27 on bass. Only the whispers of onlookers know what happened that night.
However, the most anticipated event of the semester was the Battle of the Bands on April 5. Five bands performed. The Hangers comprised a group of seniors, many of whom are in or affiliated with Beta Theta Pi, Alpha Tao Omega and Kappa Kappa Gamma. The Hangers had performed earlier in the semester at “13” to a group of mixed opinions. Their laid-back vibe set the scene and welcomed the biggest audience turnout at Java in many years. Late Night Delirium followed, although they were unfortunately dubbed the “Galen Band,” thanks to Halasz’s leadership on guitar. Even the Association for Campus Entertainment wrote the band’s name wrong. In fact, they mistook every other band name that night. Marcy, Loose Leaf and Thystopia followed suit, ultimately climaxing in a flurry of sound, sound and more sound. In double fact, many students and performers had issues with the voting form for the “battle” portion of the event. The voting amounted to a pile of “he said, she said” before the true winner was announced the day after: Loose Leaf. For their win, they opened at Springfest 2025 on April 12 ahead of Stolen Gin and A$AP Ferg.
As the year wound down, Thystopia opened for What? at Java on April 10. A week later, they again played with Marcy for a Campus Kitchen/Green House lawn show on April 17. Loose Leaf played at a Java house show on April 18. The 13th Annual Folk Fest on April 25 featured Marcy and several individual performers.
The semester ends soon. Rumblings of a reunited student band have been heard circulating around the community. Sources say a band going by “Jumbled” will perform at Java on May 1, and it may just be the best show of the year.