Fountains and Rockin’ on Nippertown Campuses

‘Twas a big weekend of spring fever on college campuses around Nippertown last weekend.

Media-wise, the Big Event was UAlbany’s annual Fountain Day on Sunday, and, of course, the turning on of the podium fountain garnered plenty of gushing coverage in newspapers and on television.

But there was some collegiate rockin’ goin’ on around the Capital Region, too – even if they were in-house, students-only events. Or at least, they were supposed to be.

On Saturday, the College of Saint Rose hosted its annual Rose Rock festival with We the Kings as headliners. Also playing during the day-long Rose Rock rockin’ were Buffalo-based Free Henry and recent Garage to Glory Battle of the Bands winners Try Sarah Topps, as well as A Sound Decision and Fairhaven.

Meanwhile, Siena College hosted Musical Mayhem on Friday, which was the college’s own Battle of the Bands. Several local bands duked it out on campus, and there was some heated competition. The LateShift emerged as the grand prize winners, which meant that they had the honor of performing again the very next night, opening for Dashboard Confessional and Kevin Devine at Siena on Saturday.

“Pretty mind-blowing experience to play on a stage that big with such a powerful sound system backing us up,” declared LateShift guitarist Mike Davies. “It was a really great time.”