By Madeline Harris
The final night of Velour prelims: a line of attendees stretched down the avenue and eager anticipation hummed in the air. It’s been a week of by-a-hair winners and first performances. A week of blues, shoegaze, indie, folk, pop-rock — you name it. Utah knows no boundaries when it comes to genre; we’ve got it all.
I sat in the judges’ corner, looking forward to a night of new music. I had never seen any of the competitors live and hadn’t the slightest idea of what to expect. I settled down into the incense-glazed air so trademark of Velour and engaged all the senses, beyond excited to take in the event.
Valentine’s Day Club
Valentine’s Day Club started their set and quickly solidified their sound and flow. They were the essence of summer and provided a West Coast-reminiscent beach rock feel. The band themselves were energetic and spry, demonstrated natural stage presence and audience interaction, and moved around the stage with fluidity and style. They were comfortable and the audience was too, and for only being together six months, they have a super solid grasp on interacting with a crowd.
I was impressed by the vocal dexterity the group showcased; my favorite part of the set was watching vocalist Alex bounce playfully between a superstar falsetto and a charming low register. His laid back, charismatic dancing and sunglasses look screamed Ferris Bueller. The other vocalist and bassist Jacob contributed a nice touch of resonant vocals among the otherwise lightheartedness of their set.
It was hard not to dance to this group, and they provided a super solid and seasonally appropriate start to this late-June evening. They maintained an exuberant energy throughout, though at times I felt the enthusiasm from all members sometimes caused conflict in the clarity of the sound. I found myself losing sight of what I was trying to pay attention to. BotB is a crowded and rushed environment though, so I understand condensing their show and sound. I would love to see this band be able to take their time. As a whole, their performance set the night on a trajectory of fun and energy, and it was a pleasure to be a part of their crowd.
I’d Rather Be
As the sun set, I’d Rather Be took the stage. Their sound check promised punk-ish elements, and excited fans wearing their merch flocked to the front.
Their songs were catchy and straightforward, and Hela’s vocal tone was clean and bright, possessing the perfect ambiance for pop-punk. His melodies were buoyant and backed by an upbeat groove that kept the crowd moshing. The band looked to be having a lot of fun on stage and excelled at talking to the crowd. Looking to the stage from the back of the venue, dozens of happy hands obstructed my view. Slipping up to the front, I could tell how much fun everyone was having. The band exuded a sense of brotherhood and unity, at one point wrapping arms around each other mid-song.
Upon listening closely, one becomes massively impressed by the complexity and pace of the percussion — triplets, 16ths, and double bass action added a significant amount of texture to the group’s sound. Now, take being massively impressed and shoot it through the roof into the realm of pure awe — the drummer, Bronx, is only twelve years old. Head positioned between cymbals, he not only packed a punch power-wise, but swiftly executed and maneuvered feverish tempos and layering rhythms. This kid is quick!
Tom’s guitar solos were energetic and satisfying, though I felt that, along with other elements of their sound, it got a bit muddied underneath the layers. Additionally, there were a couple of occasions when I found myself wishing to hear Hela’s melodies just a bit more. They maintained comfort on stage, despite minor technical difficulties. I’d Rather Be gave the crowd the perfect opportunity to move around, and I look forward to seeing this band evolve.
Hug The Warrior
Hug The Warrior took the stage next, exhibiting a band of various ages. Frontman Luke Johnson stepped up wearing sk8-hi vans and brandishing a Hello Kitty guitar. He brought with him an aura of humor and playfulness. Their guitarist Grant was fully stocked with effect pedals and worked them flawlessly, incorporating tasteful details that ornamented the set. Jed, their 16-year-old bassist, laid down a solid, steady groove and kept it up all night.
Their set was extremely broad in both vibes and time period, ranging from ’90s love ballads to modern day Bo Burhnan-esque drum machine earworms (A tribute to the actor, “Elijah Wood” was met with passion from the crowd.) There were a couple of technical mishaps, but the set was incredibly danceable. The group slowed it down with “Princess.” Dedicated to Johnson’s wife (then-girlfriend during its 1997 conception), it was well-composed and evidently well-rehearsed.
They thrived when in a solid rhythm, but as a two-month-old band, that rhythm can be hard to establish. Drummer Micah really aided in providing this necessary consistency and kept the band grounded. With more time, I’m confident they could tighten up their sound while maintaining their smiles-all-around spark.
AURHE
AURHE stepped up to conclude the event, bringing with them the high energy that proved to be the night’s theme. All members demonstrated a mastery of their instrument, and vocalist Ava blew me away. It is clear she is experienced. Her performance started at level 10 and stayed there. With a tone and presence bringing Avril Lavigne to mind, she never wavered in composure or capacity and rocked the stage with confidence.
Their sound collectively was reminiscent of Paramore but with added complexity. Guitarist Kenyon provided a wonderfully elegant performance, keeping his cool despite the intricacy of his experimental and quick-witted riffs. Ray’s percussion was super tight, potent, and rumbled the entire venue.
Twoee offered one of the most impressive bass performances I’ve seen. His level of skill is such that ridiculously complicated basslines become commonplace and even familiar. It doesn’t draw second thought, which is precisely what makes it so impressive. It is only upon investigating closely that one fully takes in the elaborate nature of his motifs. Weaving them flawlessly into the set was really a splendid touch.
They were engaging through and through. During a slower number, Twoee and Kenyon leaned into Ava in comradery, and to finish off the set, Kenyon crowd surfed during a solo and still managed to land on the right note. Their performance was unshakeable.
Results
The night was a whole lot of fun and all bands really brought it. I was super impressed from start to finish and found myself smiling all the while. It was a tight competition but only one winner could be named…
Congratulations AURHE!
Catch them at Velour’s Summer 2025 Battle of the Bands Finals tonight, alongside the other finalists: The Last Wild Buffalo, The Penny Candies, Saemore, and The Bombshell Flowers! Doors open at 7:30 PM, but the night always sells out, so get in in line early!
While you’re waiting for the show to start, check out “Elijah Wood” by Hug The Warrior below and be sure to follow AURHE on Instagram!