How UD’s Battle of the Bands Shook The Mall To Its Core
On Nov. 15, the Saturday night’s Battle of the Bands didn’t ease into anything slowly. It hit like a live wire. Fast. Sharp. Loud. The minute the amps warmed and the first chords spilled across the mall, you could feel the mood shift. Students packed shoulder-to-shoulder, the air thick with anticipation and three bands ready to prove they weren’t just campus acts — they were here to bring full volume to ground level.
3 Minutes Late kicked things off, and if anyone expected a slow start, they were wrong. They opened with “Panama”,with ear-shattering guitars that blasted across the courts, pounding the air with electric energy. The rest of the band fell in fast — bright, punchy lines cutting through the cool night with that unmistakable ’80s shimmer. By the first chorus, the crowd was already shouting along, hands in the air, the whole front row bouncing on the pavement. It wasn’t polished, and it didn’t need to be. It felt raw, full of rough edges that made every moment land harder.
They followed it with a thunderous cover of “Take Me Out Tonight,” shifting into something heavier and more restless. The bass thumped like a heartbeat gone wild, and the guitar lines spiraled upward, sharp enough to slice straight through the noise of the crowd. Every time the chorus hit, the whole court surged forward as if pulled by a single pulse. By the end of their set, 3 Minutes Late had turned the place into a small-scale riot — loud, sweaty and wide awake.
Northgate took the stage next, bringing a different kind of force. Their set burst open with heart-stopping hits, one of the most notable being their cover of Paramore’s “Still Into You.” But instead of mimicking the pop-punk sweetness of the original, they pushed it into something tighter and more driving. The drums snapped like firecrackers, and the guitars filled the space with warm, steady power. The crowd fed off the speed and energy, jumping and shouting through the chorus like they’d been waiting for it all week.
The band’s smooth transition into “One of These Nights” shifted the mood. Northgate leaned into the groove, letting the bass sit low and smooth while the vocals floated above the melody. Phones lit up, the crowd swayed and the whole place settled into a slow, rolling pulse. It was confident and controlled, the kind of performance that pulls everyone closer without raising the volume.
Then Mall Culture stepped up to close the night, and the courts erupted all over again. They opened with “That’s So True” and also sang, “I Want You Back,” which hit fast with tight, punchy grooves. The bassline snapped forward, the guitar stabs were bright and sharp and the crowd reacted instantly. People who had been worn down by two full sets found a second wind as soon as the chorus kicked in.
“I Will Survive” came next, and they didn’t play it safe. They tore into it with a pulsing beat and vocals that climbed from raspy lows to clear highs. The instrumental breaks carried slick guitar runs and bubbling bass lines that gave the cover a modern punch. It turned into a full-court sing-along, voices rising over the band until the whole place felt like it was shaking.
They closed with “Everybody Talks,” and it sent the night off like a bottle rocket. The tempo pushed forward hard, and the chorus exploded with bright, catchy force. Students were jumping so intensely that the court lights trembled. Sound ricocheted off the walls, every shout coming back twice as loud. It was noisy, messy and perfect for a closing number.
By the time the amps powered down and the final notes dissolved into the night, the Battle of the Bands had made its mark. It wasn’t about perfect technique. It was about impact — guitars stretched past their limits, drums rattling the ground and a crowd that refused to stand still. Three bands, three distinct sounds and one night that hit exactly how a campus music showdown should.
And when the judges finished tallying and the cheers finally settled, Mall Culture took the win — a tight, high-energy finish that sealed their place at the top of the night.