Velour Winter 2025 Battle of the Bands – Night 5

BLEACHER BABE

BLEACHER BABE is a band that I recently discovered after we featured one of their songs in a Provo Music Mag article announcing the winter BOTB lineup. Their song “Getting Old” has been one of my personal favorites since, so I was particularly excited to see this set. They opened with a grungy blast that immediately set the tone. Their sound blends familiar Provocore with heavier alt and ’90s grunge influences. Frontman Ashton Lee excelled at bringing the energy, commanding attention from the start and keeping the crowd locked in throughout the set.

That energy never dipped, even when Ashton snapped a string during the second song. He barely flinched and powered through without missing a beat. I mentioned “Getting Old” as being my favorite song of their catalog, and based on the reaction it got from the crowd, that is a shared sentiment. The crowd went wild during that song. While there were a couple of rhythm hiccups that could use some tightening, they didn’t derail the overall momentum or enthusiasm of the performance.

One of the biggest highlights came with an unreleased single that might just overtake “Getting Old” as BLEACHER BABE’s strongest track in my mind. My biggest regret of the night is that I didn’t catch the name of the song. On the bright side, I now have an excuse to listen to all of their new releases until I find it. They also earned extra points for plugging merch for the other bands on the bill – something I’d never seen at a Battle of the Bands before and genuinely loved. It was a small gesture that reflected the band’s confidence and commitment to the music community.

Loafa

Loafa came out swinging and never let up. Their opening song, “Unit 210,” an unreleased single, absolutely shreds and immediately set the bar for the rest of the set – which, frankly, shredded just as hard. The limitations of the shorter BOTB sets often throws bands off, but Loafa kept it tight and polished. These guys really gel together. You could tell they were having so much fun, and that was infectious.

There were moments where the mix skewed very loud, especially during the first couple of songs, but it hardly detracted from the impact of the performance. If anything, it emphasized Loafa’s raw power. Provo Music Mag writer Madeline Harris has written at length about her love for Loafa’s dynamic instrumentation, and if anything, that praise undersells just how versatile they are. The bassist in particular served as a constant anchor, fully owning his instrument and creating a foundation that allowed the rest of the band to shine.

By the end of their set, I was fully converted. Loafa’s combination of tight musicianship, infectious fun, and sheer intensity makes them a band that sticks with you long after the last note fades. Loafa has absolutely earned a spot in my daily rotation, and I wholeheartedly hope that they make it into yours as well.

Late For What

Late For What brought a sense of fun and intention to the stage. From the opening song, they had the crowd fully engaged – hands clapping in time, glow sticks waving through the air, and if I’m not mistaken, at least one rubber duck was waving through the air as well. The band’s chemistry was immediately apparent, especially when the bassist and guitarist swapped vocal duties, locking into impressively tight harmonies that added depth and surprise to the set. There was a sense that everyone on stage was enjoying the moment, whether it was the drummer—who makes up a proud 25% of the band that likes rabbits—or the keys player, fresh off sessions of Star Wars Battlefront 2.

Both of these tidbits were presented as VERY IMPORTANT facts by the way.

Musically, Late For What excelled at blending textures. Dreamy synth lines floated over chugging guitars, creating a sound that felt both expansive and grounded, and the occasional shift from electric to acoustic guitar and vice versa gave the set a welcome dynamic contrast. I do wish the synth came in more, but when it did it was impactful. The set closed on a high note with “Clouds,” which featured some particularly tasty bass lines that anchored the song while letting the rest of the band soar in a similar, yet groovier, vein to Loafa.

One thing that really stood out to me and deserves a call out was the intentionality of the songwriting. The band’s stated philosophy was: “You’re not late. If you want to seize the moment, just start right now.” Their songs echoed that sentiment, exploring themes of self-worth, perseverance, and pushing forward even when it feels impossible to keep holding on. With that messaging, Late For What didn’t just play a show – they invited everyone in the room to be fully present and start right now.

HATCHBACK

Words can’t describe how excited I was to see a banjo as HATCHBACK came on stage. While most of my personal music tastes lately lean towards punk or hip hop, I am from Utah and therefore am legally required to love some twang. Luckily, HATCHBACK has twang in spades. The folksy bluegrass sound was a stark but welcome contrast from the other bands of the night.

What impressed me the most was the band’s ability to balance raw soul with unrestrained fun. HATCHBACK managed to pour genuine emotion into their music while still hooting, hollering, and inviting the crowd along for the ride. The audience fed off that energy and gave it right back, stomping and jumping through the entire set. By the final song, the excitement had boiled over into full-on crowd surfing.

Bluegrass may have its origins “in the sticks,” but HATCHBACK proved it’s anything but sleepy or outdated. As our publisher and editor Zach Collier once eloquently said, “maybe the real meaning is the sticks we find along the way” – which, if Zach would allow me to translate for him, means “don’t sleep on HATCHBACK. Bluegrass may be from the sticks but this shiz is h*cking awesome.” HATCHBACK’s performance was lively, heartfelt, and downright awesome, making a compelling case that bluegrass can still bring the house down.

Results

I know we say this every time, but once again, this felt like a night that could have gone to any of these bands. They all exhibited talent and dedication, and should be commended for such. Seriously, please look up all of the groups that played tonight. In the end though, only one band can advance to Saturday’s finals.

This time that band was: *insert drum roll here* HATCHBACK!

Finals of Velour’s Winter 2025 Battle of the Bands are tonight! You’ll be able to catch HATCHBACK for yourself, along with the other prelim winners: Cougar Gold Music, Allo Monroe, Breakfast Biscuit, and Dogpaw. Doors open at 7:30 PM.

While you’re waiting for the show to start, check out “Best of Me” by HATCHBACK and be sure to follow them on Instagram!