The Hip Bone

http://media.www.thewheatonwire.com/media/storage/paper1134/news/2010/03/10/Features/Bands.Battle.For.Spring.Weekend.Gig-3887914.shtml

Six Wheaton bands performed in Balfour-Hood Atrium on Friday night. The ultimate prize: a chance to open for Spring Weekend band Minus the Bear. The event, which was organized by the Programming Council and Live at the Loft, featured opening performances by a guest a cappella group from University of Connecticut and Wheaton's own Whims. Approximately 100 people attended the performances of Breaking Ice, Floz' Molokin, Stimulus, Mercury Made Me Hatter (bottom right), Hip Bone (top left) and Mark and Lukas (top right and bottom left). First place went to Hip Bone. Second place, which was an opportunity to play on the Friday of Spring Weekend on Chapel Field, went to Mark and Lukas and third place went to Stimulus, who will play at the Den some time during Spring Weekend. - The Wheaton Wire

http://media.www.thewheatonwire.com/media/storage/paper1134/news/2009/04/08/ArtsCulture/Bands.Battle.For.Opening.Spot-3701142.shtml

On Thursday night Balfour-Hood Atrium was transformed into a musical turf war for one of Wheaton's more popular events, the annual Battle of the Bands. Sounds from guitar, sax, drums and bass, as well as vocals reverberated around the structure of Balfour. Wheaton bands Hip Bone, Stimulus, the Kurt Peterson Band, The Royal We and Bredwinna$ competed for the ultimate prize of $250 and the opportunity to open for Head Automatic on Spring Weekend. Second place was $150 and third place was $75. Resident Wheaton Master of Ceremonies Albi Skenderi '09 hosted the event with his usual colorful jokes and charisma.

The evening began with a performance from guest judges Van Buren whose keyboardist is Wheaton alum Jeff King '08. They opened with Turduken and Martin Part II (named after their favorite president Martin Van Buren).

The jazzy sounds of Hip Bone followed the opening act. Their performance stood out due to their unique style that was more bossanova inspired with instruments such as bass and saxophone, as well as, guitar and drums. For their final song, Hip Bone members, including drummer Dylan Parker-Roach '09, guitarist Jon Phillips '10 and Brian Race '10 performed a jazzy interpretation of OutKast's "So Fresh So Clean" which was instantly recognized by the crowd.

Stimulus took the stage next with an original mix of rap and electronic beats. Band members Scott Wade '11, Sam Kestenbaum '09, and Riley Waggaman '10 excited the crowd with catchy lyrics such as "put it on the grill," along with Waggaman's notoriously eclectic dance moves.

The Kurt Peterson Band followed Stimulus with their Jack Johnson, Maroon 5-esque sound that had people swaying in their seats and dancing on the small floor space in front of the seats. Kurt Peterson '09 led the band on the bass and he was accompanied by a non-Wheaton student on the drums, and a guitarist who also played the harmonica, a la Bob Dylan.

The Royal We got the audience up on their feet and dancing with a three song set while channeling The Rolling Stones. Aptly, their second song, "Keith Richards," was a real crowd pleaser while their closer, "Attica," had a more Kings of Leon feel. Nathan Robbins '09 on the bass, Sam Dykstra '09, and Stewart DesMeules '10 on the guitar, and Adonis Deacon, who is a friend of Robbins, on the drums. They performed as if they were at Woodstock circa 1968 and certainly had the Wheaties feeling the beat as well.

The final performance of the night came from Wheaton's own rap group the Bredwinna$, who has attracted quite the following, with semi-outrageous videos on YouTube, along with their endorsement of SGA presidential hopeful Gabe Amo '10, which was posted on the candidate's following. Bassist Sam Wetterau '09, guitarists Brian Sonnenstein '09 and Sam Dykstra '09, drummer Hayden Bird '09, coupled with rappers Braden King '09, Ben Marlowe '09, Evan Morse '09 and Tom Syverson '09, who delivered an energetic, crowd-pumping performance for both rock and rap enthusiasts alike.

Although the competition was tough, it was the Bredwinna$ who won first-place and will be performing at Spring Weekend '09 prior to the Head Automatic concert. The jazzy, musical styling's of Hip Bone earned them the $150 second-place prize, and Stimulus placed third, taking $75. - The Wheaton Wire

http://media.www.thewheatonwire.com/media/storage/paper1134/news/2009/02/04/News/Lyons.Den.Reopens.For.Year.With.Campus.Band-3610896.shtml

The formalized reopening of the Lyon's Den on Jan. 25 for the spring semester featured Captain French and the Toast Pirates and drew in a large crowd. Andrew Malone '11, Business Manager for the Lyon's Den, said they wanted to "start off [the semester] with a bang."

The night featured the bluegrass, folk and jazz band with Wheaton students, Jon Phillips '10, Sam Kestenbaum '09, Josh Richard '09, and Brian Race '10.
Following Captain French and the Toast Pirates was The Hip Bone: a jazz band featuring Wheaton students Jon Phillips '10, Brian Race '10, Jesse Shaw '12, and Dylan Ettlinger '12.

Ian Sloane '12, attended the opening of the Lyon's Den and said of the bands, "they made me feel like dancing, they gave me happy feet."

Malone said at the end of the night that, " it seemed to go well, I think the crowed really enjoyed it." - The Wheaton Wire