By Danica Ward
Staff Writer
This past weekend signaled one of the best times of the year for the College. On Sept. 20 and 21, the TV Studio in Kendall Hall became home to 10 local musical artists who came to showcase their talents.
The event was put on by both the College’s WTSR radio station and Lions TV. The studio was decked out in professional equipment and lit up with colorful stage lights that made it feel like a sold-out venue.
This event was no small feat — student signups were sent out in weeks prior to the event to garner help for the project ahead. Several students were manning the cameras, either laying on the ground to get the shot, or moving the huge machines around to film a wider view.
Headsets were worn, and “Quiet on set!” was shouted many, many times. More students worked the sound equipment, with an entire crew set up in the control room, giving directions and overseeing the entire production.
Both days started at 11 a.m. and lasted until 6:30 p.m., with each band receiving a time slot to come into the studio. In fact, the programming was down to a science: the bands came in, set up, played, packed up and then went downstairs into the WTSR studio for pictures and an interview.
For the show, each act prepared a three-song setlist, and were allowed to do multiple takes if they wanted to tweak their sound. In addition, the event was free to everyone, students and Ewing community members alike. In fact, Sunday afternoon’s act Babe City gathered quite a crowd in the studio.
Saturday’s lineup featured acts such as Bovine Bandits, Velvet Heart, Talon, Exit 109 and Beach Daze, the last of which previously performed a couple weeks prior at the College Union Board’s Back to School Fest. Sunday’s lineup included Molly Ringworm (a returning act at Underground), No License, Vern Matz, the aforementioned Babe City and finally Assisted Living.
It is safe to say that each musical act completely rocked the stage. Everyone brought their own unique energy to the show, highlighting the range of underground sound that Jersey boasts.
Babe City introduces one of their songs at Underground. (Photo by Andre Paras / Video Editor)
It was very fun to hear each band’s intra-member banter in-between takes, with it just going to show that everyone involved was having a blast. Even though the event was completely professional, it still felt low-key enough to where it was really just bands coming in to play music they are proud of and have it recorded.
As mentioned before, after their sets, each act gave about a 20-minute interview to WTSR News Staff. Each act answered a bunch of questions, and then created their own on-air bumper (“Hey! You’re listening to WTSR 91.3, and this is our band!”)
I was able to sit in on the interviews, and even ask a couple of my own questions. One of the questions that came up the most frequently was about how the bands go through their songwriting process.
Most of the interviews I attended had a similar answer. Sarah Holt, frontwoman for Molly Ringworm, remarked that it “[u]sually starts with me coming up with something either usually starting with a chord progression, or a melody that comes to me. And I kind of work out a form of some sort, bring it to the guys and everyone kind of helps arrange and build on that little demo that has some potential, add their own parts and make it into something else…”
Molly Ringworm plays Sunday’s first set. (Photo by Andre Paras / Video Editor)
Each band had similar answers when it came to their brainstorming processes, but honestly varied vastly across musical inspirations. Influences ranged from Liz Phair, to A.G. Cook, Wilco and The Beatles, of course. When band No License did their interview, we even had a whole conversation about indie giant Guided by Voices, with an additional five-minute promotion of The Wrens, one of their favorite New Jersey bands.
No License likened the Underground experience to that of what it would be like to perform on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. They also took the time to promote not just their music, but some other key ideas, too. “Make sure you're registered to vote. Get your flu shot. Drink eight cups of water a day. Call your grandma,” said Lance, one of the band’s guitarists.
No License smiles for a photo in the WTSR studio. (Photo by Andre Paras / Video Editor)
Sunday’s third act, Vern Matz, mentioned his goal of making 10 albums and then quitting the music scene all together. But it seems like some of the other bands are just getting started.
Molly Ringworm has an album release show at the Anchor Rock Club in Atlantic City on Oct. 24, Assisted Living has just released music as part of a compilation album supporting global non-profit Baitulmaal and Babe City has an upcoming show at Laurel Road Studios in Brooklyn this upcoming Saturday.
WTSR’s 2025 Underground show was a huge success. You can check out all of these artists across Bandcamp and other music streaming platforms, and make sure to keep an eye out for new releases and local shows.
