Image of Novella. Courtesy of Natalie Richards ’27
Music has the potential to bring people together, and on Friday, November 28, that is precisely what happened in Ben’s Underground. The College Entertainment Committee (CEC) and the Junior Class Cabinet co-hosted Battle of the Bands, an unforgettable performance you just had to be there for. Junior Class Secretary and emcee for the night, Sarwesh Acharya, introduced the event, setting the stage for eager fans to enjoy live music from Franklin & Marshall students. Refreshments and pretzel bites were served throughout the event. Seats quickly began to fill up and students lined up against the walls and side areas of the venue. Up to bat first was Novella, and they delivered a well rehearsed set list that set the tempo for the rest of the night.
Each band chose three songs to perform that evening. Novella’s lineup included “Your Phones off the Hook, But You’re Not” by X, “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits, and “21st Century Schizoid Man” by King Crimson. Sophomore Gaia Dash ‘27 was the lead vocalist for the set and her voice radiated throughout the venue during their opening song. Sophomore Jack Kelly ‘27 was on bass, and he helped fuel the performance with an amazing solo and just an overall talented skill set. Sophomore Gabriel Rampp ‘27 was playing guitar for the band, but during the second song he showed off his range as an artist by singing “Sultans of Swing”. Lastly, Sophomore Justin Lizana ‘27 played drums and kept the entire group synchronized, while also taking his time to shine and rock out on a solo. Overall, the performance was strong. They were cohesive and bursted with intense energy that pumped up fans right out the gate.
Rampp had wanted to play in a band for a long time. He has made many new connections through his journey of music at F&M and urges others to, “put yourself out there and ask people to play music with you. Even if they’re total strangers just ask them if they play an instrument. All the people I play with now are people that I met through asking other friends if they know anyone that played a certain instrument.”
Next up were the reigning champs from last year’s Battle of the Bands event, the Ratskis. Expectations were high for this band, since many of the members have performed live music before. Their set list included “Crazy on You” by Heart, “If I’m Honest” by Trousdale, and “Can’t Take my Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli. As lead vocals, Sophomore Lily Andrey ‘27 was electric and gave a completely captivating performance in each song. Her voice was intoxicating, and accompanied with rhythmic swaying and head nods, her presence just felt natural. Sophomore Thanos Daniilidis ‘27 played acoustic guitar and was instantly a crowd favorite. Sophomore CJ Marlin ‘27 was on bass and gave a great performance while helping the band keep a fun and entertaining presence. Junior Joey Gossick ‘26 was on drums, and as one of the more experienced musicians of the night, and it definitely showed. Gossick gave a confident performance while visibly showcasing his joy and passion for music. Lastly, Freshman Jake Baringer ‘28 was playing guitar, and he was the dark horse for the band. He gave a great solo and the entire night he kept revealing how much of a skilled guitarist he was to the audience. The Ratskis kept the momentum going from the previous band, and the crowd loved them. There was a huge round of applause from the audience, and my only complaint was that they should’ve played another song, or maybe a longer one.
Andrey said, “When I got to college, the biggest transition was not having an outlet of performance. It was bizarre having to go to a practice room to sing, and not having any shows. I was used to having multiple a month. And if I wasn’t playing them I was booking them…When I didn’t have a band to play with there was a really big void in my life so I am so grateful for Ratskis and they are one of my favorite parts of F&M.”
Image of The Ratskis. Courtesy of Natalie Richards ’27.
Lastly, Clockwork was the closing band of the night, and it would prove a hard challenge for them to top the performance previously given by the Ratskis. On top of that, this was their first live performance as a band, and pressure was on. Their set list consisted of “Brainstorm” by Arctic Monkeys, “Plug in Baby” by Muse, and “Wake Up” by Rage Against The Machine. Sophomore Carl Kamdin ‘27 was lead vocalist and guitarist for the night. As their performance progressed, Kamdin really seemed to tap into his ability as a musician, and by the end of the performance, he had a powerful and commanding presence that was felt by the audience. Sophomore Justin Lizana ‘27 played drums for the band. Lizana is already a member of Novella and this was his second time playing at the event. He was a crucial component of the band, and he really stepped up and helped the band deliver an awesome performance. Freshman Henry Lunger ‘28 played lead guitar and gave a stellar performance that helped glue the band’s overall sound together. Lastly, Freshman Milo Cabral ‘28 was on bass and completed the band’s cohesiveness. They ended their showing by thanking the audience and the other bands.
Kamdin said, “I wanted to join a band at F&M because it allows me to play my favorite music with people who have similar interests in front of people who are supporting us every step of the way…There is no better feeling than when everyone feels the beat and the roughness which some songs put down…”
Image of Carl Kamdin. Courtesy of Natalie Richards ’27.
After voting online through the CEC text list, the winner of the 2025 Franklin & Marshall’s Battle of the Bands was announced: The Ratskis. What may have come as a surprise to some, to me, the Ratskis’ win seemed very well-deserved. This was the second consecutive win for the band, and third for their drummer, Joey Gossick, and they have really solidified themselves as a talented group of musicians on campus.
Right as things were dwindling down, there was an important announcement by CEC’s Vice President Caroline Reigel ‘26. The headliner for Spring Arts, the annual music festival on Hartman Green, was to be announced. On April 5, 2025, Almost Monday, an American indie pop trio, will be coming to Franklin & Marshall. So, grab your phone, start memorizing their lyrics, and make sure to see them live!
Junior Zach Long is the News Editor. His email is zlong@fandm.edu.